Health and Fitness Essay

wristband or chest wrap for optimal conduction (Nakamura, et al., 2014).

The Karvonen method, a mathematical formula, is advantageous for athletes and patients in assessing weight loss and fitness improvement. The importance of maintaining good health and fitness has increased due to lifestyle management concerns. In medical care, fitness involves the heart's ability to pump blood without strain. The Karvonen calculation, developed by a Scandinavian physiologist, incorporates the heart rate reserve, which is the difference between the maximum heart rate and resting heart rate. To determine a target heart rate for patients or athletes, the Karvonen formula uses the resting and maximum heart rates along with training intensity. However, it is crucial for the maximum and resting heart rates to be accurately measured for precise calculation using the formula.

The formula for estimating the maximum heart rate is (208 - 0.7 x age). The heart rate reserve, on the other hand, calculates the difference between the maximum and resting heart rates. The formula for determining the target heart rate is as follows: Target Heart Rate = ((max HR ? resting HR) ? %Intensity) + resting HR.

How to Take a Blood Pressure

The measurement of blood pressure requires the use of a blood pressure kit, especially at home, for a simplified measurement procedure. Common tools available at pharmacies and medical supply stores include cuffs and digital electronic technology.

The body's condition can be determined by blood pressure, which can indicate symptoms of organ failure leading to stroke and heart failure (Nakamura, et al.2014). The measurement of blood pressure using a cuff simulator involves the following steps:

1. Inflate the simulator multiple times using the 'Inflate Cuff' button.
2. Deflate
   

the simulator using the 'Open Valve' settings before closing the valve.

The Use of Submaximal Graded Exercise Test Protocol

The submaximal exercise protocol is a physical activity protocol that gradually increases intensity up to but not exceeding 85% of maximum heart rate. Comparing submaximal exercise testing and maximal exercise testing is particularly useful for physical therapists in their role as clinical exercise specialists. The protocol involves using performance and predictive tests to measure relative merits. The predictive test estimates maximal aerobic capacity, while the performance test measures the response to standardized physical activities commonly encountered in daily life (Noonan, Dean, 2000). For submaximal graded exercise testing, equipment like bikes or treadmills are typically used in the measurement process.

The test styles are designed in the manner in which to measure the fitness with minimal variations between manufacturers. The typical grading of the fitness test includes weight, height, blood pressure, and heart rate measurements. The training begins with low intensity under the guidance of a trained professional and gradually increases with the adoption of speed and energy (Noonan, ; Dean, 2000). The submaximal graded fitness test ends when the heart reaches 85% of the maximum heart rate.

References

1. Noonan, V., ; Dean, E. (2000). Submaximal Exercise Testing: Clinical Application and Interpretation. Physical Therapy, 80(8), 782-807. Accessed September 02, 2016. Retrieved from http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/80/8/782.
2. Nakamura, H., She, J., Makino, K., Ohyama, Y., ; Hashimoto, H. (2014).

The International Journal of Automation and Computing (11(1), 56-61) presents a study on comparing and selecting formulas for maximum heart rate in

relation to the Karvonen formula used in pedaling exercise.