Blood pressure at the maximal exercise
level, blood pressure at a submaximal
workload, and the rate–
pressure product — an indicator of
myocardial oxygen consumption —
were also lower after 16 weeks of regular
exercise. The lower rate–pressure
product observed at maximal
workload was entirely due to lower
systolic blood pressure, since values
for maximal heart rate before and
after exercising were similar. The
rate–pressure product at submaximal
workload was 18 percent lower
than at base line.