Physical Therapy Evaluation Tool (PEAT) 3 Practice Exam

During steady-rate aerobic exercise, the cardiovascular system increases cardiac output to meet the muscles’ demand. The heart pumps more forcefully and often faster, so systolic blood pressure rises as blood is ejected with greater force. Diastolic pressure stays about the same or may fall slightly because active muscles dilate their blood vessels (lowering peripheral resistance), allowing more blood flow without a large rise in diastolic pressure. This combination means systolic pressure increases while diastolic remains largely unchanged, which is the pattern seen in healthy adults during steady-state exercise. If systolic pressure didn’t rise, it would indicate inadequate increase in cardiac output; if diastolic pressure rose, it would suggest increased peripheral resistance rather than the typical exercise-related vasodilation.