Post exercise Heart rate Recovery of Young Individuals in a Medical College of Nepal: An Observational Study

Introduction: Health and fitness of young adults is prime factor that indirectlyreflect the productivity of the society. Fitness of the young adults have been assessed using various parameters worldwide, among which post exercise heart rate recovery is an alternative index with limited data. Hence this study aimed to explore the post exercise heart rate recovery at various times after exercise as an index of fitness of young medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive and exploratory study was conducted in the Laboratory of Clinical Physiology Department of Maharajgunj Medical Campus from October 2024 to December 2024. Seventy-two students aged 18 to 24 years underwent Queen’s college step test. Heart rate was monitored at fifteen seconds, one minute, two minutes and five minutes post exercise to calculate heart rate recovery. Heart rate recovery more than or equal to 12 beats at one minute, 20 beats at two minutes, and 50 beats at five minutes were considered as normal. Results: The study revealed that 65 (90.30%), 68 (94.40%), 41 (56.90%) participants had normal heart rate recovery (HRR) at one minute, two minutes and five minutes respectively. Mean HRR in male is 28.79±13.18, 42.40±13.29 and 51.58±14.27 at one, two- and five-minutes post exercise respectively. Mean HRR in female is 30.58±14.53, 47.37±14.76, 58.32±16.44 at one, two and five minutes respectively. Conclusion: Postexercise heart rate recovery in majority of students from a medical college in Nepal at one minute, 2 minutes and 5 minutes is normal.