A physical therapist monitors a patient's vital signs while completing 20 minutes of jogging at 5 mph on a treadmill. As the session approaches its conclusion, the therapist incorporates a cool down period. The anticipated response during the post-exercise period is:

During the post-exercise period, it is expected that there will be a progressive decrease in systolic blood pressure. This response occurs as the body transitions from an active state back to a resting state. During exercise, blood pressure naturally increases to enhance blood flow to the working muscles and meet metabolic demands. However, as the exercise ceases and the individual begins to cool down, several physiological processes come into play.

After stopping vigorous physical activity, the heart rate will gradually return to its resting level, and the demand for oxygen decreases. Consequently, the vascular system dilates, which leads to a reduction in vascular resistance. This reduction in resistance allows blood to flow more easily and typically leads to a decrease in systolic blood pressure as the body works to restore homeostasis. Therefore, the anticipated response of a progressive decrease in systolic blood pressure is consistent with normal physiological responses during the cool-down phase after exercise.

In contrast, the other choices suggest increases or responses that do not align with the expected physiological norms during the recovery phase following moderate to vigorous exercise. For instance, diastolic blood pressure typically remains stable or may also drop slightly, while an increase in rate pressure product would indicate an increase in myocardial demand, which does not occur during the cool