The effects of continuous and discontinuous walking on physiologic response in college-age subjects

The Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity recommends an accumulation of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week. The purpose of this study was to determine if 3 10-minute bouts of walking had the same effect on physiologic response as 1 30-minute bout of continuous walking when both were performed 3 d x wk(-1) for 12 weeks. Thirty (18 completed the study) college-aged subjects (VO2max: 44 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) +/- 8.37) were randomly assigned to either a nonexercising group (N = 7), a group (N = 5) that performed 3 10-minute bouts, or a group (N = 6) that performed 1 30-minute bout of exercise. Intensity was set at 50-60% of estimated maximum heart rate. A mixed factor 2 x 3 analysis of variance (time by group) was used to analyze the data (alpha = 0.10). Controls demonstrated a significant decrease in VO2max, while the exercise groups demonstrated no significant change. There was no significant difference demonstrated for pre- and postmaximal heart rates or for pre- and postmaximal respiratory exchange ratio. Continuous and discontinuous walking were equally effective in maintaining, but not improving, VO2max.