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RESEARCH that VERIFIES the PULSE POINT METHOD  

The Study:  The Pulse Point method was derived from analysis of information obtained in a Physical Fitness program provided by the Exxon (Now ExxonMobil) corporation to some of its employees.  The program (Yarvote, PM et al, Journal of Occupational Medicine 16:589-598) involved results on 265 men of average age 47 that exercised an average of about 3 times per week on 10 different exercise stations over periods of up to two years.  Detailed data from this program obtained by this author included measurements of heart rates at start, finish and each of the 10 exercise stations.  This provided a quantified record of heart rates and heart rate elevations during exercise.  Exercise stations included heart rate measurements on both an exercise ergonometer bicycle and a treadmill during each session.  Values of VO2 Max in ml of oxygen per kg-minute were estimated from results on the bicycle and treadmill. This data set provided what even today appears to be a near unique record of actually measured heart rate elevations above resting rate during exercise together with continuous confirmed measurements of cardiovascular fitness for a much larger group of individuals and for a longer time period than usually is involved in research studies of this type. This study was done before cardiovascular type exercise became popular.  The average CFR of men at start was 103 CFR, and averages of various groups tested in the tables that follow ranged from 103 to 105 CFR.

Continuous profiles of heart rates and heart rate elevations were computer-derived from the individual exercise heart rates logged. Values of an index of cardiofitness similar to the CFR were derived from the average of estimated VO2 Max values from bicycle and treadmill heart rates and loads.  Statistical derivations from the data indicated that values of the CFR were best correlated with exercise duration times average heart rate elevations to the 2.0 power. (Statistical range of this was from about 1.5-2.5).  It was evident that higher heart rate elevations produced cardiofitness much more effectively.

The Pulse Point concept is an obvious derivation from the finding that Cardiofitness fitness develops as the 2.0 power or square of heart rate elevation above a resting or initial heart rate. Importantly, this is an expected result from exercise of the heart from engineering analysis.  Effective exercise of the heart and the accompanying cardiovascular system produces a combination of the stress on the heart due to heart rate elevation and the number of added stresses. This combination increases total effective exercise as the 2.0 power or square of heart rate elevation.   Pulse Points were taken as the product of exercise duration in hours and the square of heart rate elevation above heart rate at start.  A factor was derived that fitted this equation to results of the above research data.

The Verifications:  Table 1 shows the results on different groups selected arbitrarily from differing dates of exercise that represent those that exercised more and less.  Pulse Points from the fitted equations fit the results quite well.  Another test involved selecting individuals that had the most widely differing range of levels of Pulse Points.  The Pulse Point method also forecasted results of these individuals quite well as per the examples cited.

Pulse Points only are an Approximate Guide:  The Pulse Point method may now be the only method available for forecasting Cardiofitness improvements from heart rate monitored exercise.  Yet the method is recognized as an approximate guide, and other factors probably will determine Cardiofitness.  First, the method is verified only for men.  Somewhat different values may apply for women.  Second, it probably applies most directly to men of average starting Cardiofitness level.  Actual heart exercise will depend on volume of blood circulated.  The heart of a person of high Cardiofitness will deliver more blood per stroke than will a similar person of low Cardiofitness and thus produce more exercise of heart at a given heart rate elevation.  Another problem is that research suggests that the Cardiofitness of some individuals will respond better to exercise that others.  Thus a genetic factor probably is involved.

Despite this, Pulse Points can provide a first approximation of the exercise needed to achieve a given objective in Cardiofitness. The real challenge for any health-interested person is that of obtaining a healthful level of Cardiofitness level in CFR verified by actual measurement on a treadmill or other device.

A Device is Needed to Measure Pulse Points Continuously:  With today's technology it should be possible to design a device that will measure Pulse Points continuously from exercise done at or above a minimal heart rate elevation level from any entered resting heart rate. This could selectively measure Pulse Points accumulated from variable heart rates over time.  Such a device will open up an enormous potential for new physiological research on how actual heart rate exercise  produces Cardiofitness and health.  Present such devices estimate only calories of physical activity that are not useful in determining Cardiofitness. A quality device would be able to measure both Activity Calories for weight control and Pulse Points for Cardiofitness Development. 

 PULSE POINTS and CARDIOFITNESS in CFR
 For MEN AFTER ONE YEAR OF EXERCISE

Table 1:  For Groups:

Table 2:  For Individuals that obtained widely differing Pulse Points: