Exercising heart rate check during physical?

I had this during sports physicals during high school where the doctor would have each boy jump for a minute and then check his heart rate and compare it to his resting heart rate. It was weird to be asked to jump up and down for a minute while just in underwear only but we did what we were told to do during those group physicals.

In my 20s, I went for an insurance physical and it was the same deal. I was already undressed to my briefs and the doctor had already checked my blood pressure and heart rate while I was sitting on the table in the exam room. Then the doctor told me to stand up and jump for one minute while he sat there and timed me. So, I did what he said and jumped up and down until he told me to stop. A minute seems like a long time when you are jumping up and down. Then he had me sit on the table again while he listened to my heart. It was a flashback to those days in high school. I have never had a doctor do that since. Anyone have an experience like that?

I am repeating myself, but, yes, my most thorough, old school doctor, my first internist, did a hernia check and then requested jumping jacks so he could recheck the heart. Following what he said, not what should have been obvious, I did them with briefs at my ankles.

I've included some form of exercise to check heart rate in several of the stories that I wrote. So yes, I think that should be part of any sports exam. In my stories, the patients are either in just a jockstrap or nude, just to make it more stimulating.

I have spoken to a few people whose hearts beat extremely fast during physical examination because of the anxiety and environment. Resting heart rates can easily reach 120 beats per minute. I wonder if the doctor who normally required running in place would forgo the test in such a circumstance. It would be extremely bad press if the patient died because of a heart attack during a routine physical examination.

That got mentioned in the musterung book in fact. The guys were very nervous, being naked at seventeen. The staff were required to keep them, seated, until heart rates returned to normal because otherwise they couldn't be inducted into service.

It wasn't jumping jacks even though that might have made more sense. I was told to jump straight up and down for a minute. In briefs only. The doctor sat there and watched me and then started making notes in the chart again. He told me when to stop and I am sure that it was more like two minutes. I was out of breath and felt stupid jumping up and down in my underwear. Glad that I wasn't naked as that would have hurt. After he finally told me that I could stop, the doc had me sit in a chair while he checked my pulse and heart. Then he continued the rest of the exam.

Can it be just the white coat syndrome ?

Every doctor exam i go to my heart starts pounding just from viewing the steth alone, not to mention when the doc places it on my chest !

Every doctor exam i go to my heart starts pounding just from viewing the steth alone, not to mention when the doc places it on my chest !

Sometimes the doctor in training will suspect an organic problem if he finds a pounding heart upon initial auscultation. Also the blood pressure may test high. The young doctor is often at a loss and does not even consider the medical fetish aspect of the situation.

I have had this done once or twice.

Once time I simply had to stand up and squat down over and over.

I was getting my first adult physical at age 24. A resident doctor about my age administered the exam. I was in my boxer briefs for the entire exam. She was concerned about an irregular heart rhythm and called in my PCP to assess the situation. I was reexamined by my PCP and had to jog in place for 3 minutes and my heart rate was checked again.

I had this at my physicals at senior school where I had to run on the spot fast for a minute on the gym floor wearing only my boxer-briefs, and the doctor stethed us to compare our heartrate at rest and after exercise.

I'm a very fit runner, regularly doing 33:30-34 minute 10K races. On the way to the track for a workout I visited a new cardiopulmontary lab having an open house. I mentioned to the doc I had these pressing sensations running speed workouts, repeat 400 meters. He offered me a stress test on the treadmill. I had on my running shoes,shorts. Usually they warm up someone with walking then turn up the speed. I start fast, told them to turn it on high, about a 6 minute mile pace--easy for me. Then they turned up the incline to the max. I ran up the heart rate to 215, more than I should have for 30's. After a few minutes of this the cardiologist told me I was too healthy.

I'm a cardiophile at heart (pun intended lol) and absolutely LOVE performing an exercising heart rate check during a play physical on a patient (or having one performed on me if I'm the patient)....auscultate the patient for a minute before to obtain their resting heart rate and take a blood pressure measurement then instruct the patient to engage in some physical activity usually squats or whatever is comfortable for the patient to do for another minute. Auscultate afterwards and get another blood pressure measurement 😃 Repeat if necessary 😉

I'm a cardiophile at heart (pun intended lol) and absolutely LOVE performing an exercising heart rate check during a play physical on a patient (or having one performed on me if I'm the patient)....auscultate the patient for a minute before to obtain their resting heart rate and take a blood pressure measurement then instruct the patient to engage in some physical activity usually squats or whatever is comfortable for the patient to do for another minute. Auscultate afterwards and get another blood pressure measurement 😃 Repeat if necessary 😉

That sounds amazing!!! That's what I call a through exam!!!

I've always loved the thought of being told to work out to a certain level to test my heart out. Getting stethed whilst my heart is beating at its absolute maximum and being told to keep it up, then to feel it being listened to as it slows back down again. Dreamy. ?

Once in a HS sports phys I had to do jumping jacks for a minute, like many other only in briefs.

Usually ped. would have me to a few situps while on the table (somethimes naked, sometimes briefs)

Hasnt happened as an adult

In my early twenties I had a preemployment physical for a physically demanding job. I expected the usual physical with a hernia check, which I did receive. But before the physical itself I had to do some simple exercises to show I was fit enough and able to do the job. One was lifting some weights that were in a wooden box with handles from the floor to a bench that was about waist high, then squeeze some handles that had a dial to show my grip strength. Then I had to jog up and down a stairwell for a minute and have my heart rate checked and my heart listened to with the stethoscope afterward.

After being told to have a seat in the waiting room for 15 minutes or so to let my heart rate get back to normal, I was finally called back for the physical. I didn’t have to undress, but had my shirt lifted for the stethoscope check and abdominal exam, then stand up and drop my jeans and undershorts for the hernia exam.

So far I have not been tasked with exercising during a real physical exam so the doc can check my heart rate. However, this is something I would hope that a doctor would expect during a play exam.

IronPony ....preferably naked

HAppens at every flight physical

On an exercise bike

When I was a volunteer firefighter we had annual physicals. Part of the exam included doing jumping jacks for one minute following by a pulse and blood pressure check.

I've had several occassions where I had to perform knee bends in underwear and the doctor would listen to my heart before and after.

HAppens at every flight physical

On an exercise bike

Is that a stress test?? Only times I've had to exercise was during a stress test - wired up with an ECG. Medical staff available in case I arrested! 😄

I would think most physicals that require some form of physical exertion would have to be able to respond should someone have heart or some other difficulty - or be liable if they don't.

This is my jam in so many ways.

On the surface layer, anything that can be used to enhance the length and depth of the cardiovascular exam is a win.

It’s also just plain interesting. If you’re fascinated enough by med play to actually get out and do it, there’s got to be some appreciation for the body and physiology. Seeing how different people’s bodies react to conditions like exercise is a huge opportunity for exploring.

But it also feeds into the power dynamics that most people seem to enjoy - by a lot. Fitness level and all the markers involved are usually subject to some kind of value judgement. When a patient has their fitness evaluated it’s usually judged on some range from good to bad. I find most patients (in my case, men) get nervous enough having their blood pressure checked or their heart auscultated when it’s for basic screening. When these exams are used to label their fitness level, that carries a whole different connotation. Yet I’ve seen tons of guys specifically interested in exploring their cardiovascular status, and usually they’re looking to be told they ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ with regard to their strength or athleticism or whatever. That’s a lot riding on it for the patient being evaluated and the examiner judging the tests.

I think for the right person, this sort of procedure can really, really intensify a med play scenario. The subtext around power dynamics is massive.

A female work colleague told me that at her employment medical she was required to do at step-up test just in her knickers. the doctor stood in front of the step as she did the exercise the checked her heart rate. she found it extremely embarrassing

Oh this takes me back and my friends still take the piss out of me.

When I was still in the old county I started getting chest pains so went to the family GP (physician). After a long chat it was down to my knickers and he took bloods, bp and auscultated me. He then decided that I should increase my heart rate by doing some star jumps. The problem was I started bouncing so much it looked like a Benny Hill sketch so he stopped me and got me to do some more gentle squats. I made the mistake of telling my hubby to be to who went and told all our friends.

Not at a medical examination, but i had a personal trainer when i started at a gym, and he regularly checked my heart rate for the first few sessions

Never had anything like this done...But can say with certainty, I would die on the spot. Would LOVE this in a play or real exam. The thought of it makes me crazy. Yea. Sign me up for auscultation and blood pressure checking after humiliating exercise bit at Drs...In my undies. Yes.

After my CABG I had to take a stress test before starting rehab. When they read the report at rehab one thing I thought must be a negative was "did not reach target heart rate". Since then I have talked to several people who took the same stress test and none of them made it to the 4th step. I made it a minute and a half into the 4th step so I now think not making it to the target heart rate is a GOOD thing. At rehab they checked our BP and listened to our chests before beginning the exercises and many times during the exercises. I discovered there are many things that affect your BP and none of them have anything to do with your health. Mine was always 10 points higher when a certain nurse took it. Also higher if I've been talking. Lower after shoveling snow from the driveway.