Effects of Music Stepping Cadence on 3-min Step Test Performance in Hong Kong Females

Abstract

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese.
 This study compared the performance of university females in Hong Kong with different ages and physical activity participation levels on two 3-min step-tests using different cadences. Fifty-six students were classified into three groups. They performed two step-tests randomly on a 30-cm high bench with metronome (MN) and hip-hop music (HH) cadences at 96 beat·min-1 with 60 min rest between. The preference of either cadence was indicated upon completion of both. Rate of perceived exertion was reported at 2-min (RPE2) and 2.5-min (RPE2.5). Heart rates at rest (by monitors, HRr) and 1-min post-exercise (by monitors, HRh; by pulse, HRp) were recorded. Results indicated that more than 80% of them preferred HH. Among all groups, although paired t-tests showed no significant differences (p>0.05) between the performance of MN and HH, the latter elicited a higher HRp, HRh, RPE2 and RPE2.5, and both cadences were highly correlated (r=0.70-0.91, p<0.001). MANOVA showed no significant differences for the responses of HRp, HRh, RPE2 and RPE2.5 under the two stepping cadences (Hotelling’s Trace=0.27, p>0.05). There was no interaction between age and physical activity participation level (Hotelling’s Trace=0.23, p>0.05). HH seemed a reliable cadence for 3-min step-test in females of different ages and physical activity participation levels.
 本研究探討採用音樂與節拍器拍子於三分鐘登臺階測試對不同年齡和運動習慣的女生之影響。五十六名女生根據她們的年齡和參與運動習慣分成三組。她們以隨機排序採用節奏強烈的音樂和傳统節拍器拍子完成兩次三分鐘登階測試。每次測試相距不少於六十分鐘。結果顯示超過八成女生較喜用音樂拍子，她們在两種拍子的身體反應並無差異(P>0.05)，年齡和參與運動習慣並無互動效果。結果證實在三分鐘登臺階測試中音樂拍子可以有效地取代單調節拍器拍子。