Comparison of Mood Response Through Five Weeks of a High Intensity Functional Training Competition

Abstract

Mood is known to be affected by exercise, as well as the predictability of an event. By design, high-intensity functional training (HIFT) incorporates a wide variety of exercise modalities. Further, competitive HIFT events generally incorporate a unique and unpredictable combination of fitness challenges that may elicit varying mood responses. PURPOSE: Examine mood prior to and following 5 unique, competitive HIFT events during a worldwide fitness competition. METHODS: Physically active adults (N=11; 34.9 ± 5.1 years, 77.9 ± 15.1 kg, 166.1 ± 10.6 cm) with HIFT experience (≥6 months) completed a baseline (BL) Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire the week prior to the HIFT competition. During each week of the 5-wk competition, the competitors completed a unique HIFT fitness challenge. For each challenge, the POMS was completed prior to (PRE), immediately post (IP), 30-min post- (30P), and 60-min post-exercise (60P). The POMS yields measures of tension, depression, anger, confusion, fatigue (FAT), and vigor (VIG). Additionally, Total Mood Disturbance (TMD; sum of other 5 subscales minus VIG) and Energy Index (EI; VIG - FAT) were also calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed no differences between BL and PRE values across weeks. Week (1-5) x Time (PRE, IP, 30P, 60P) interactions were observed for EI (P=0.025) and FAT (P=0.002). Compared to Week 5, EI was higher (increased VIG and/or decreased FAT) in Week 3 at 30P (Wk3: 12.3 ± 3.6; Wk5: 4.0 ± 5.4, P=0.003), and higher than Wk1 (P=0.005) and Wk3 (P=0.005) at 60P (Wk1: 14.8 ± 8.7; Wk3: 11.6 ± 4.0; Wk5: 6.0 ± 5.4). Compared to Wk3, FAT was significantly greater at Wk1 (P=0.005), Wk4 (P=0.001), and Wk5 (P=0.008) at IP (Wk1: 10.3 ± 4.0; Wk3: 4.4 ± 5.2; Wk4: 9.1 ± 5.9; Wk5: 10.4 ± 7.3). No other significant interactions were observed between weeks. CONCLUSION: The unique design of the HIFT competition did not seem to impact pre-exercise mood, but the different workouts resulted in differing mood responses, particularly for vigor and fatigue.