EXERCISE PATTERNS OF HOME-EXERCISE EQUIPMENT USERS

Abstract

685 A questionnaire was sent to 1000 purchasers of in-home aerobic exercise equipment to evaluate their exercise habits. The 172 respondents ranged in age from 19 to 85 years. "For my health" (56%) and weight management (29%) were the two most commonly reported reasons for exercising. Over 80% of the sample met or surpassed the ACSM minimum recommendations for exercise frequency (81% reported greater than or equal to 3-4 session/wk) and duration (82% reported greater than or equal to 20 min/session). 103 respondents (60%) reported selecting the intensity of exercise based on "how it feels", while 26% reported using heart rate (HR) response to exercise. Of the 45 respondents who use HR, 40 reported using a target HR zone (THR). When asked to identify the source(s) of their knowledge about THR, the same 45 respondents reported learning from equipment manufacturer's materials (n=21), books (n=18) and/or "a fitness specialist" (n=9). The only statistically significant difference in exercise patterns between the genders was in the reported method of intensity selection. A larger percentage of women than men reported perception-based intensity selection (Chi-square = 10.5, p<.01; Women: 70% "how it feels", 21% HR, 9% other; Men: 43% "how it feels", 40% HR, 17% other). The results suggest that most people who exercise at home on aerobic exercise equipment are meeting ACSM recommendations for exercise frequency and duration. Most select intensity based on how it feels to them as opposed to other methods including HR response. It is still not known, however, whether individuals who exercise at home are meeting ACSM recommendations for exercise intensity. Funded by NordicTrack, Inc.