Cardiovascular physiological variables examined during the rest state and the exercise activity: suggestion of an experimental protocol

Abstract

Both the physiological rest state and the exercise activity represent a challenge for the control systems of the homeostasy maintenance. In general, the body systems maintain a stable state during the interactions with the external environment (as, for instance, while changing the body position or doing physical activities), despite the variation of many physiological parameters. The cardiovascular parameters are interesting indexes to study the organism equilibrium and the actions that yield homeostasis. In order to make easier the understanding of the cardiovascular parameters and their infl uences during the classes of the discipline of Human Physiology, an experimental protocol was elaborated to be used as reference during the practical classes of cardiovascular physiology during the graduation course on Physiotherapy. The protocol aims to improve the theoretical concepts of vascular and cardiac physiology showing the behavior of physiological variables during two situations: at rest and during physical activities. Additionally, this work shows up the importance of this basic discipline subject in the course context.