[Radiotelemetry of cardiovascular response on a fitness trail (author's transl)]

Continuous radiotelemetry of direct arterial blood pressure and heart rate was performed in eight healthy subjects (seven men, one woman; average age 26 years) on a fitness trail. The results demonstrate that such running represents a maximal effort, at 192/min heart rate (age-related maximum). The heart rate remained constant whether on largely dynamic exercise during running or on largely static effort during gymnastic exercise. During running, blood pressure rose up to 151/79 mm Hg, while gymnastic exercise gave mean values of up to 200/130 mm Hg as a result of sustained muscle contractions and forced breathing. Such uncontrolled maximal effort may be unexpectedly dangerous to persons with cardiovascular disease and fitness trails should not be recommended in the rehabilitation of cardiac patients.