How is pulse rate a good measure of physical conditioning?
Each time your heart beats it forces a surge of blood through your arteries. This surge is called your pulse. The speed at which your heart beats changes many times every day. You can measure the speed by taking your pulse. Exercise will change your pulse rate from what it is when sitting or relaxing. The regulation of pulse is a complex system influenced by several factors, one of these is physical conditioning. A short recovery time and a low resting pulse are both signs of a well-conditioned system. What is meant by “heart beat?” The heart is said to beat when the pumping of blood occurs. Practice counting your heart beats until you are sure you can count accurately. Count the number of beats you feel in ten seconds and write it down. What are arteries? Vessels that carry blood from the heart are called arteries. For example – the arteries on your wrists and on the side of your neck are near the surface of the skin. At these points you can feel the surge from your heart. What is mea
