Lower Blood Lactate Concentration and More Positive Affective Valence in Response to Reduced Exertion High Intensity...

Perceptual responses are related to long-term exercise adherence. This within-subjects study compared blood lactate concentration (BLa) and perceptual responses to reduced exertion high intensity interval (REHIT) between rowing and cycle ergometry. Twenty healthy, active adults (age = 27 ± 6 yr) underwent a VO₂max test followed by completion of REHIT on the rower or cycle ergometer. Exercise consisted of three "all-out" 20 s sprints separated by active recovery. BLa, affective valence, rating of perceived exertion (RPE 6 - 20), and enjoyment were acquired during exercise. Results showed no difference in peak HR (98 ± 6 vs. 95 ± 4 %HRmax, p = .06) or maximal workload (191 ± 34 vs. 204 ± 29 %Wmax, p = .25) between rowing and cycling REHIT. Rowing REHIT exhibited significantly lower BLa (p < .001) at 2, 30, and 60 min post-exercise (7.0 ± 2.2 vs. 11.6 ± 2.8 mM, p < .001, d = 1.9; 3.1 ± 1.5 vs. 6.2 ± 2.8 mM, p < .001, d = 1.4; and 2.0 ± 0.7 vs. 3.1 ± 1.3 mM, p = .02, d = 1.2) versus cycling. Results also showed significantly greater enjoyment (101 ± 12 vs. 89 ± 17, p < .001, d = 0.84) and lower change in RPE (7.8 ± 2.0 vs. 9.5 ± 2.1, p = .001, d = 0.85) and affective valence (-1.2 ± 1.5 vs. -2.4 ± 2.7, p = .036, d = 0.54) with rowing versus cycling REHIT. Overall, rowing REHIT elicits a more positive perceptual response versus cycling.