Abstract
A variety of health benefits associated with physical activity depends upon the frequency, intensity, duration, and type of exercise. Intensity of exercise is the most elusive of these elements and yet has important implications for the health benefits and particularly cardiovascular outcomes elicited by regular physical activity. Authorities recommend that we obtain 150min of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) each week. The current descriptions of moderate to vigorous intensity are not sufficient, and we wish to enhance understanding of MVPA by recognition of important boundaries that define these intensities. There are two key thresholds identified in incremental tests: ventilatory and lactate thresholds 1 and 2, which reflect boundaries related to individualized disturbance to homeostasis that are appropriate for prescribing exercise. VT2 and LT2 correspond with critical power/speed and respiratory compensation point. Moderate intensity physical activity approaches VT1 and LT1 and vigorous intensity physical activity is between the two thresholds (1 and 2). The common practice of prescribing exercise at a fixed metabolic rate (# of METs) or percentage of maximal heart rate or of maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) does not acknowledge the individual variability of these metabolic boundaries. As training adaptations occur, these boundaries will change in absolute and relative terms. Reassessment is necessary to maintain regular exercise in the moderate to vigorous intensity domains. Future research should consider using these metabolic boundaries for exercise prescription, so we will gain a better understanding of the specific physical activity induced health benefits.
Highlights
Moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) is commonly recommended for health benefits (Tremblay et al, 2011), yet the majority of the population does not engage in physical activity of sufficient intensity and volume (Warburton et al, 2007; Borgundvaag and Janssen, 2017) to obtain these health benefits
To encourage people to engage in the appropriate intensity of exercise and to guide future research concerned with the health benefits of exercise, it is important to have objective methods to quantify the intensity of exercise
Any physical activity is beneficial in lieu of a completely sedentary lifestyle, it is recommended that adults obtain 150 min of moderate to vigorous intensity exercise or 75 min of vigorous intensity exercise each week
Summary
Reviewed by: Scott Nolan Drum, Northern Michigan University, United States Georges Jabbour, Qatar University, Qatar. A variety of health benefits associated with physical activity depends upon the frequency, intensity, duration, and type of exercise. Intensity of exercise is the most elusive of these elements and yet has important implications for the health benefits and cardiovascular outcomes elicited by regular physical activity. Authorities recommend that we obtain 150 min of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) each week. The current descriptions of moderate to vigorous intensity are not sufficient, and we wish to enhance understanding of MVPA by recognition of important boundaries that define these intensities. Reassessment is necessary to maintain regular exercise in the moderate to vigorous intensity domains. Future research should consider using these metabolic boundaries for exercise prescription, so we will gain a better understanding of the specific physical activity induced health benefits
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