Physiological effects of passive exercise on cardiorespiratory function

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of passive exercise as performed by physical therapists on the cardiac and respiratory systems. Seventeen normal subjects were positioned supine on a treatment table where they received passive range-of-motion exercise manually of most joints of the right upper extremity for ten repetitions. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and tidal lung volume were recorded before and immediately after the exercise. The results of the study showed no significant difference between measured values.