Analyse how different intensity levels of exercise affect the heart rate response in a trained versus untrained individual. (6 marks)
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Sample Answer
- At rest
- Trained individuals typically have lower resting heart rates (40-60 bpm) compared to untrained individuals (70-80 bpm) due to physiological adaptations including increased stroke volume and cardiac efficiency.
- Low-intensity exercise (40-50% of maximum heart rate)
- Trained individuals experience a smaller increase in heart rate compared to untrained individuals for the same workload.
- A trained individual may reach 100-110 bpm while an untrained person might reach 120-130 bpm.
- Moderate intensities (60-70% of maximum heart rate)
- Trained individuals maintain lower heart rates while performing the same absolute workload, demonstrating greater efficiency in oxygen delivery and utilisation.
- High-intensity exercise (80-90% of maximum heart rate)
- The trained individual still maintains a lower heart rate for the same workload, but both will approach their maximum heart rates during very intense exercise.
- Recovery heart rate
- Significantly faster in trained individuals, who may see their heart rates decrease by 30-40 bpm in the first minute after exercise compared to 15-25 bpm for untrained individuals.
- Differences attributed to the trained individual’s increased stroke volume, allowing the heart to pump more blood per beat, requiring fewer beats to deliver the same cardiac output.
- Trained individuals also have enhanced parasympathetic nervous system function, allowing for quicker heart rate recovery after exercise ceases.
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Sample Answer
- At rest
- Trained individuals typically have lower resting heart rates (40-60 bpm) compared to untrained individuals (70-80 bpm) due to physiological adaptations including increased stroke volume and cardiac efficiency.
- Low-intensity exercise (40-50% of maximum heart rate)
- Trained individuals experience a smaller increase in heart rate compared to untrained individuals for the same workload.
- A trained individual may reach 100-110 bpm while an untrained person might reach 120-130 bpm.
- Moderate intensities (60-70% of maximum heart rate)
- Trained individuals maintain lower heart rates while performing the same absolute workload, demonstrating greater efficiency in oxygen delivery and utilisation.
- High-intensity exercise (80-90% of maximum heart rate)
- The trained individual still maintains a lower heart rate for the same workload, but both will approach their maximum heart rates during very intense exercise.
- Recovery heart rate
- Significantly faster in trained individuals, who may see their heart rates decrease by 30-40 bpm in the first minute after exercise compared to 15-25 bpm for untrained individuals.
- Differences attributed to the trained individual’s increased stroke volume, allowing the heart to pump more blood per beat, requiring fewer beats to deliver the same cardiac output.
- Trained individuals also have enhanced parasympathetic nervous system function, allowing for quicker heart rate recovery after exercise ceases.