Affective Responses to a Graded Exercise Test on a Recumbent Bicycle

Abstract

1134 In a recent review paper on exercise and affect (Ekkekakis & Petruzzello, 1999), the authors suggested that researchers need to put an increased emphasis on measuring in-task affect and examining exercise intensity in relation to ventilatory threshold (VT) because of their potential implications on motivation and adherence in exercisers. PURPOSE: To examine the temporal dynamics of affective responses to exercise at different intensities relative to VT during a graded exercise test (GXT) on recumbent cycle. METHODS: 12 males (Age = 24 ± 2 years; Height = 181 ± 2 cm; Weight = 79.9 ± 3.0 kg; VO2peak = 40.4 ± 2.2 ml.kg-1.min-1) completed a maximal GXT to volitional exhaustion on a recumbent cycle ergometer (workload increased 50 W every 2 min). Peak oxygen consumption and VT were determined from the GXT. Affect via the Feeling Scale (FS) and Felt Arousal Scale (FAS) was measured pre-, every 2 min during GXT and 10 min post GXT. Affective responses were compared at 4 stages during the GXT: stage 1 (50W), stage 2 (stage prior to VT), stage 3 (stage VT occurred) and stage 4 (last stage of GXT.) RESULTS: A RM GLM on FS and FAS showed a significant main effect of time (Wilks' λ = .252, F (10, 100) = 9.718, p <.001). The significant time main effect was attributable to changes in both FS [F (5, 50) = 6.146, p = <.001] and FAS [F (5, 50) = 15.527, p<.001]. The results for FS show a non-linear change with FS maintaining pre-GXT levels at stage 1 and stage 2 followed by a sharp decline during stages 3 and 4 followed by a strong rebound 10 min post-GXT. FAS showed a strong linear increase at each of the stages of exercise and then was reduced 10 min-post GXT, but not to pre-GXT levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence that individuals begin to have declines in affective valence at and beyond the VT. This information may have utility in designing exercise programs and warrants further investigation.