Cardiovascular Recovery and Adiposity Indices among Sedentary Young Adults Following a Structured Physical Activity

Background: Physical activity has been shown to have positive impact on health and in the long term results in improved physical fitness and quick recovery in cardiovascular parameters after sub-maximal exertion. Clinical evaluation of cardiovascular recovery as a prognostic tool for cardiovascular diseases has been subject of interest and many factors has been established to influence recovery.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the relationship between adiposity indices and cardiovascular recovery indices in sedentary young adults following a structured physical activity.

Materials and Methods: A total of two hundred and eleven (211) young adults (127 males and 84 females) participated in this study. Subjects performed a sub-maximal exercise on a cycle ergometer until they attain 60-70% of their age predicted maximum heart rate following which the heart rate and blood pressure recovery was measured after 1 minute, 3 minutes and 5 minutes. Prior to the exercise, participants’ anthropometric parameters were measured and adiposity indices recorded.

Results: Results showed a significant positive correlation between waist-hip ratio and heart rate recovery, a significant negative correlation between percentage body fat and heart rate recovery, a significant positive weak correlation between body mass index and systolic blood pressure recovery. There was no significant relationship between any of the adiposity indices and diastolic blood pressure recovery. Some levels of differences exist between body adiposity and recovery indices.

Conclusion: Body adiposity should be taken into consideration in preventing the risk of cardiovascular diseases occasioned by slow recovery after physical activity.