Open AccessPsychophysiological Responses to Group Exercise Training Sessions: Does Exercise Intensity Matter?
Author(s) -
Matteo Vandoni,
Erwan Codrons,
Luca Marin,
Luca Correale,
Marcelo Bigliassi,
Cosme Franklim Buzzachera
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0149997
Subject(s) - session (web analytics) , physical therapy , exercise intensity , arousal , aerobic exercise , medicine , affect (linguistics) , exercise physiology , psychology , training (meteorology) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , heart rate , blood pressure , social psychology , communication , world wide web , computer science , physics , meteorology
Group exercise training programs were introduced as a strategy for improving health and fitness and potentially reducing dropout rates. This study examined the psychophysiological responses to group exercise training sessions. Twenty-seven adults completed two group exercise training sessions of moderate and vigorous exercise intensities in a random and counterbalanced order. The %HRR and the exertional and arousal responses to vigorous session were higher than those during the moderate session ( p <0.05). Consequently, the affective responses to vigorous session were less pleasant than those during moderate session ( p <0.05). These results suggest that the psychophysiological responses to group exercise training sessions are intensity-dependent. From an adherence perspective, interventionists are encouraged to emphasize group exercise training sessions at a moderate intensity to maximize affective responses and to minimize exertional responses, which in turn may positively affect future exercise behavior.