Date of Defense

4-18-2012

Date of Graduation

4-28-2012

Department

Human Performance and Health Education

First Advisor

Christopher Cheatham

Second Advisor

Gretchen Mohney

Keywords

exertion, exercise

Abstract

The American College of Sports Medicine currently recommends that all individuals age 18-65 perform vigorous aerobic activity for at least 20 minutes 3 days a week, or moderate intensity aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week. Activities that fall under this category include, but are not limited to walking, running, cycling, swimming and elliptical machines. When an individual exercises, they have a sense of what their intensity level is based on how they 'feel'. Ratings of Perceived Exertion charts serve as a guide for this subjective thought process. There are wide ranges of intensities associated with levels of exercise and the type of exercise the individual has chosen to perform. Therefore, there is a possibility that the mode of exercise may influence the actual exercise intensity (expressed as a % of maximal heart rate or maximal oxygen consumption) even though the individual is exercising at pre-determined perceived exercise intensity levels. Previous research has examined such a likelihood utilizing shorter time frames such as 20 minutes of exercise on a specific mode of exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how different modes of exercise (cycle ergometry vs. treadmill exercise vs. elliptical exercise) for 40 minutes will affect the actual exercise intensity at a predetermined rating of perceived exertion. This increased duration of activity conforms more closely to the guidelines set forth by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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