Preferred exertion across three common modes of exercise training

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• Self-selected exercise intensity can enhance adherence by allowing personal choice.
• However, individuals may not select intensities sufficient for health benefits.
• Understanding exercise mode influence on self-selected intensity is crucial for effective programming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different exercise modes (treadmill, cycle ergometer, stairstepper) affect self-selected exercise intensities.
• To determine if self-selected intensities align with recommended health guidelines across various exercise modalities.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen young adults (18-25 years) performed 20-minute submaximal tests on a treadmill, cycle ergometer, and stairstepper.
• Subjects self-selected their exercise intensity for each mode.
• Continuous oxygen consumption (V̇O₂), heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured.

Main Results:

• Relative V̇O₂ (percentage of V̇O₂peak) increased significantly across all modes during the 20-minute trials.
• Average relative V̇O₂ was significantly higher during cycling compared to treadmill and stairstepper exercise.
• Relative HR was significantly higher on the stairstepper and cycle ergometer than on the treadmill.
• No significant differences in RPE were observed among the three exercise modes.

Conclusions:

• Self-selected exercise intensities generally fall within the moderate-intensity range (50-85% V̇O₂max) recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine.
• Exercise mode impacts the physiological intensity achieved, with cycling eliciting higher V̇O₂.
• Self-selection appears to be a viable strategy for achieving moderate-intensity exercise, but mode-specific considerations may be warranted.