Relationships Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Resting Heart Rate, and Heart Rate Recovery in Elementary School Children

This study was investigated the relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness, resting heart rate, and heart rate recovery in elementary school children. A total of 567 elementary school children (398 boys and 169 girls) voluntary recruited from G-gu, Seoul. Body mass index was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed step test, resting heart rate and heart rate recovery were recorded with wireless heart rate monitor. One-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test, if necessary, was applied to determine significant differences in dependent variables among cardiorespiratory fitness levels. Also, multiple regression anlaysis was used to determine significant determinants of cardiorespiratory fitness. The results showed that boys with better cardiorespiratory fitness significantly better resting heart rate, peak heart rate, and heart rate recovery in 1SUPst/SUP minute, 2SUPnd/SUP minute, respectively (p.05). Girls with better cardiorespiratory fitness significantly better resting heart rate, peak heart rate, and heart rate recovery in 1SUPst/SUP minute, respectively (p.05). In addition, multiple regression analysis revealed that height (p=.008), weight (p=.029), and resting heart rate (p.001) were independent predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness. In conclusion, resting heart rate found to be independently associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in elementary school children, and it is easy to measure and it can be used as a tool for monitoring cardiorespiratory fitness in the education aspect.