Journal of Educational Sciences > Volume 11, No. 1, 1999

Heart Rate Telemetry during Secondary Physical Education Classes: A Study in Riyadh City / Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa, Khalid S. Almuzaini

The purpose of the present study was to investigate heart rate (HR) and distance covered, as indicators of work intensity. during intermediate (Junior High) physical education classes (PE). The sample (N = 75) was selected randomly from the city of Riyadh. The mean (±SD) for age, weight, height, and body fat were as follows: 14.4 ± 1.7 yr., 50.6 ± 14.9 kg, 159. I± 9.9 cm, 17.9 ± 8.9 %, respectively. The results indicated that the actual time of a physical education class was on the average 32 min. out of a 45 min. period. During PE. the mean HR was 147.9 ± 13.9 beats per minute (bpm), the percentages of time the students spent with HR < 120 bpm and HR > 159 bpm were 17.9 ± 12.9 % (5.7 min.) and 39.4 ± 19.4 % (12.6 min.), respectively. The average distance covered during the PE was 1808.7 ± 1204 m. Variability between subjects in the HR and the distance covered was found to be very high. The distance covered during PE correlated significantly with the average HR (r = .25; p < .05) and with the percentage of time the students spent with HR> 159 bpm (r = .34; p < .01). However, no significant correlations were found between body fat percentage and any of the above mentioned variables. It was concluded that the average time that the intermediate-school students spent in physical activity at HR > 159 bpm was not enough to improve cardiorespiratory fitness. This was especially true when considering the fact that there is only one physical activity period per week offered to these students.