Experiment Protocol and Setup

Stairs climbing exercise is one form of an outdoor exercises that is available for free anywhere, in this study, we have adopted the stairs climbing exercise to control and model

the exerciser intensity based on the heart rate and to build exercise and rehabilitation monitory system.

Each experimental exercise consists of three different phases, i.e., warm up, exercising and recovery as shown in figure 5.3. The training period also called onset exercise, while the recovery period called offset exercise. The onset exercise in our case is climbing the stairs, and descending the stairs is the offset exercise.

Figure 5.3: Stairs Climbing Exercise Protocol

Warm up Phase:

During the warm up phase which is the first 180 seconds of the exercise, the HR were obtained and recorded by the smartphone application and the average of the obtained HR values were set as resting HR (HRrest) which is a very important indicator of our cardiovascular fitness system health.

Exercise Phase:

The exercise phase lasts for 12 minutes and the intensity of the exercise was based on the HR values. The subjects were asked to switch between high intensity exercise, which is in this case climbing the stairs, and low intensity exercise, which is descending the staircase.

Recovery Phase:

The recovery phase is a vital phase that prevent any injury after exercising and helps the muscle to return to its normal condition. The recovery phase lasts for five minutes and the HR recovers to its HRrest.

As we have mentioned earlier, that the Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax) is defined as the highest number of beats per minute (bpm) during maximum exertion. There are many formulas to calculate the HRmax; the easiest and most common method is by using this formula:

𝐇𝐑_𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝟐𝟐𝟎 𝐀𝐠𝐞 Equation 5.1

However, in this study, the Inbar [41] formula was adopted to find out the HRmax for each participant. i.e. the HRmax for the subject whose age is 43 is calculated as following:

𝐇𝐑_𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝟐𝟎𝟓. 𝟖 𝟎. 𝟔𝟖𝟓 𝐱 𝐚𝐠𝐞 Equation 5.2 205.8 0.685 𝑥 43

176.345 176 𝑏𝑝𝑚

The subjects HRmax have been calculated based on Equation 8. The following table shows the recommended HRmax for each participant along with the low and high intensity exercise:

Table 5.2: Participants Training Zone

Subjects Age (yr) HRmax Low Intensity Exercise (60%

of HRmax)

Before starting the experiment, the following information is required in order to find out the HRmax and other vital information:

1. User name.

2. User Age.

3. Exercise ID.

4. Date.

Based on the above information the smart phone application guides the athletes during the stair climbing exercise through voice commands and alerts. Figure 5.4 shows a snap shot of the smart mobile application where the user enter his basic information before starting any exercise.

Figure 5.4: Smartphone Application Interface

Once, the basic participant data provided, the smart phone application calculates the HRmax, onset and offset recommended HR.

Each participant wore the Cosmed K4b², a portable indirect calorimetry system, while climbing the stairs. The Cosmed K4b² has been shown to be a valid instrument to measure oxygen consumption for a wide range of work rates on a cycle ergometer.

The portable indirect calorimetry unit was mounted on the participant via a chest harness.

A flexible facemask that covered the participant’s mouth and nose was attached. The facemask was secured to the participant via a head strap as shown in Figure. 5.5

  Figure 5.5: K4b2 unit Facemask

The Cosmed K4b² portable metabolic system was calibrated as per manufacturer instructions, after the calibration process was completed, participants information such as gender, age, height, and weight were entered into the Cosmed K4b² portable system as shown in Figure 5.6:

  Figure 5.6: K4b² PU - User Information

Data from the portable Cosmed K4b² that is stored locally has been downloaded to a Windows-based personal computer after the test was completed.

COSMED K4b² have been calibrated and the subjects data entered, before starting any test, and after finishing the test, the systems need to be stopped and then the data to be transferred through the companion software to the computer for further analysis.

Having all the required tools turned on, calibrated and having the required subjects’ data such as ID and age, the experiment starts in the following procedures:

 Sit on chair and rest for two minutes before starting the exercise.

 Stand up and wait for two minutes.

 Starts walking on the flat platform for three minutes.

 Starts climbing the stairs on normal pace.

 The smart mobile application produces a voice command “Go Down”

once the participant has reached 80% of his HRmax.

 Subject needs to respond to the voice command by descending the staircase.

 The smart mobile application produces a voice command “Go Up” once the participant has reached 60% of his HRmax.

 Subject needs to respond to the voice command by ascending the staircase.

 The smart mobile application will monitor the ascending/descending pace, and notify the participant by producing alert to either increase or decrease his pace.

 The exercise lasts for 12 minutes.

A voice notification “Exercise Ends” will be produced at the end of exercise. Subject will be seated on a chair and relax for five minutes.