Abstract
BackgroundGroup-based exercise is a popular method of improving fitness. However, limited research exists on the multidisciplinary responses to group-based exercise.AimsThe aim of this study was to compare the physiological and mechanical demands of aerobics, indoor group cycling, and netball.MethodsFourteen recreationally active females (age 20 ± 2 years, body height 1.65 ± 0.09 m, body mass 65.9 ± 11.8 kg, body fat 26.3 ± 7.2%) participated in three experimental trials (aerobics, indoor cycling, netball) in a randomised order with 1 week intervening. Heart rate, blood lactate, RPE and PlayerLoad™ were measured.ResultsA repeated-measures ANOVA revealed mean and peak heart rate (beats·min−1) were lower (P < 0.05) for aerobics (130 ± 114; 176 ± 18) than indoor cycling (150 ± 9; 191 ± 9) and netball (144 ± 11; 195 ± 6), respectively. Blood lactate (mmol·L−1) was higher (P < 0.001) after indoor cycling (5.6 ± 2.6) compared to aerobics (2.2 ± 1.4) and netball (2.5 ± 1.1). RPE was not different between trials. PlayerLoad™ (a.u) during indoor cycling (213.9 ± 46.9) was lower (P < 0.05) than netball (358.5 ± 94.5) and aerobics (296.9 ± 99.0).ConclusionsThese results suggest indoor cycling stimulates greater physiological demands, whilst netball and aerobics elicit a higher PlayerLoad™ corresponding to higher mechanical demands. These findings may have implications for exercise prescription in recreationally active females.
Highlights
The association between physical activity and health is well established, yet only approximately half of the UK adult population engage in regular moderate or higher intensity physical activity [1] and physical inactivity is a global pandemic [2]
Mean and peak heart rate responses during indoor cycling and netball were significantly higher in comparison to aerobics (P < 0.05), but were not different from each other
Blood lactate was significantly higher (P < 0.001) after indoor cycling compared to aerobics and netball, which were not different to each other
Summary
The association between physical activity and health is well established, yet only approximately half of the UK adult population engage in regular moderate or higher intensity physical activity [1] and physical inactivity is a global pandemic [2]. It has been reported that aerobics exercise classes are a form of high-impact, but lower intensity, exercise with typical heart rates equating to 68–79% of maximum [4, 5]. The maintenance and/ or increase of skeletal health from the mechanical demands associated with aerobic exercise classes are viewed as a key benefit, in female populations [8]. Conclusions These results suggest indoor cycling stimulates greater physiological demands, whilst netball and aerobics elicit a higher PlayerLoadTM corresponding to higher mechanical demands. These findings may have implications for exercise prescription in recreationally active females
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