A STUDY OF EXERCISE PERFORMANCE AND HEART RATE: THE RESPONSE TO EXERCISE OF A SMALL GROUP OF MANUAL WORKERS BEFORE AND AFTER RETIREMENT

Abstract

Measurements of walking pattern, exercise performance, heart rate response to exercise and body composition have been made in 13 male manual workers at retirement and again one and two years later. The exercise consisted of walking, in accordance with standard instructions; heart rate and footfall signals were recorded on magnetic tape during the test using body-borne tape recorders. After the first year highly mgnificant reductions in walking speed were found but no significant changes in walking pattern, heart rate reaponse or body composition. When the measurements made at the end of one year of retirement were compared with those made at the end of two years no significant changes were found.