The Relationship Between Exercise Intensity and Cardiovascular Health

Authors

  • silatul rahmi universitas negeri makassar

Keywords:

exercise intensity, cardiovascular health, adolescents, VO₂max, resting heart rate

Abstract

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among adolescents has increased significantly in recent years, necessitating interventions that promote cardiovascular health. This study aimed to examine the relationship between exercise intensity and cardiovascular health parameters in adolescents enrolled at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science (FIKK) at Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 125 adolescent participants (15-18 years old) from March to August 2024. Cardiovascular health was assessed through measurements of resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, maximum oxygen uptake (VO?max), and pulse rate recovery (PRR) after graded exercise testing. Exercise intensity was categorized into three levels: low, moderate, and high based on percentage of maximum heart rate (HRmax). Results demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between exercise intensity and resting heart rate (p < 0.05), with participants engaging in high-intensity exercise exhibiting lower RHR values (M = 58.2 bpm, SD = 4.8) compared to low-intensity exercisers (M = 72.5 bpm, SD = 6.2). Additionally, VO?max showed significant positive correlation with exercise intensity (r = 0.687, p < 0.001). Blood pressure measurements indicated that moderate to high-intensity exercise participants demonstrated better cardiovascular efficiency with lower systolic and diastolic pressures. Pulse rate recovery at one minute post-exercise was significantly faster in the high-intensity group (M = 22.8 bpm recovery, SD = 3.5) compared to the low-intensity group (M = 10.5 bpm recovery, SD = 4.1). These findings suggest that appropriate exercise intensity levels, particularly moderate to high-intensity training, are associated with improved cardiovascular health markers in adolescents. Implications for cardiovascular health promotion programs in educational institutions are discussed

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Published

2025-09-30

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): September

Section

Articles