Objective: This study assessed the short-term stability of resting pulse rate (RPR) over an approximate 10-minute period in college students.
Methods: Thirty-one students were recruited as a convenience sample. The RPRs were manually measured in the seated position after 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 minutes of seated rest. The RPRs were compared by rest time in repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Results: Mean RPR increased by 1.9 beats per minute (BPM) from 1 minute of pretest rest to the 3-minute measurement (P < .05) and by 1.5 BPM from 3 minutes to 5 minutes (P > .05). Among the 5-, 7-, and 9-minute pretest rested readings, a difference of less than or equal to 0.6 BPM was observed. Statistically significant differences were observed for (a) all comparisons involving the 1-minute rested measurement and (b) the 3- and 7-minute rested measurement. Overall, RPRs began to stabilize beginning with the 5-minute rested measurement.
Conclusion: In this sample of participants, RPR measurements could stabilize after a minimum of 5 minutes of pretest rest.
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