The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intermodal reliability of perceptually-based exercise intensity among four machines: Treadmill (TM), Stationary cycle (CB), Body Trec elliptical arm/leg (BT), and AirDyne (AD). Nineteen subjects (8 male and 11 female; age 44 + 12 yrs) completed one GXT on each of the machines, following a mode-specific protocol. Subjects also completed two 15 minute production trials (PTs) on each machine at self-selected workrates corresponding to target RPEs of 11-12 (L) and 15-16 (H). In the PTs, workloads were self-adjusted through the first 5 minutes and then remained stable for the rest of the trial. Modes were randomly assigned, and subjects were blinded to the workload throughout each trial. Heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake (V02) were obtained during the final 5 min. of each trial using a Polar HR monitor and Aerosport TEEM 100. Also, blood lactate (BLC) was sampled immediately following exercise at each intensity. Intermodal reliability was assessed using ANOVA, intraclass correlations (R), coefficients of variation (CV), and mean absolute differences for HR, V02, and BLC during the second PT. ANOVA revealed nointeraction for BLC at either the LOW or HIGH. Post -hoc analysis showed the TM and/or BT to produce significantly higher physiological responses at both intensity levels. At the L and H, intermodal Rs were: HR (.84/.88), VO2 (8/.77) and BLC (0.09/0.67). Significant intrasubject differences were observed at the L for HR (11-47bpm, VO2 (.04-1.46 L/min), and BLC (.29-12.94 mM/L). The H trials followed a very similar trend. Using a HR criteria of +2 beats/15 sec. to assess intrasubject reliability, 0% of the subjects were reliable at both the L and H. This data suggests that perceptually-based exercise across multiple modes is associated with significant intraindividual variability, and reliability is dependent upon the statistical design and physiological variable being used. In conclusion, it is recommended that extensive exercise testing be performed to ensure that individual participants can reliably use the RPE scale, prior to using an RPE value to prescribe the intensity of exercise. / School of Physical Education

The aim of the study was to determine the relative effectiveness of a motivational-targeted (MT) message intervention designed to increase physical activity (PA) in cardiac patients beginning a long-term maintenance cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program to enable them to meet recommended PA levels. Methods: Fifty two individuals (34 males, 18 females) volunteered for the study and were randomly assigned to either the Usual Care Group (UC), or the Motivational Message Group (MM). Participants in the MM group received, in addition to the usual long-term maintenance CR program, 12 –standard, MT newsletters at the beginning of each week during the intervention period. Thirty-three individuals (mean age: 61.4 ± 11.4 years) completed the study with viable data. PA was assessed for 12 weeks with the use of a Lifecorder PLUS accelerometer. Baseline and post measures of weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, resting heart rate and blood pressure measures, and fasting blood measures were completed on all subjects. Subjects also completed an exercise self-efficacy questionnaire and a stage of change of physical activity readiness questionnaire at these timeframes. Results: Independent sample t-tests indicated there were no significant differences between baseline characteristics between the UC group and MM group. Results indicated slight increases in the MM group in steps/day, and moderate-vigorous minutes/day, with slight decreases in resting heart rate, blood pressure, and blood lipid values compared to the UC group. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA tests determined there was a significant main effect for time for resting heart rate, however, there were no other significant differences between the two groups or within either group, showing no time by group interaction for any variables measured. Conclusions: MT messages may have the ability to increase PA levels and adherence in CR patients, however, more research is needed to determine the significant value of motivational-targeted messages for these individuals. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of exercise among individuals with fibromyalgia. The goal of this research was not to prove that exercise is good for people with fibromyalgia, but rather to gain an understanding of how health practitioners can help fibromyalgia patients adhere to regular physical activity. The research was conducted using three focus groups with people who are treated for fibromyalgia at Medical Consultants in Muncie, Indiana. The groups consisted of current exercisers and non-exercisers. Four themes emerged from the groups that the participants discussed. These themes were, reasons for exercising, barriers to exercise, desired characteristics of an exercise program, and key support personnel helping participants deal with their condition. The information contained within these themes can be used by health practitioners to develop exercise programs that entice fibromyalgia patients to adhere to a regular exercise program. / Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology

Ten trained subjects were studied during and following exercise to determine the effects of fructose ingestion on muscle glycogen depletion and resynthesis. Three subjects cycled for anhour while the other six subjects completed a 3000-yard swim. The subjects ingested 12 grams of fructose before, 46 grams during, and 12 grams in the 30 minutes following the exercise. Muscle biopsies were obtained before, immediately after, and 12 hours post exercise. In -the cyclists, plasma glucose and insulin were also determined. The ingestion of fructose had no effect on the glycogen depletion during exercise. However, in the 12 hours following exercise, fructose ingestion resulted in a 41.4 mmole/kg-wet tissue increase in muscle glycogen. At the same time, the control period resulted in only a 9.53 mmole/kg-wet tissue increase in muscle glycogen. Plasma glucose and insulin levels increased during the fructose feeding. These data suggest that fructose ingestion during exercise has no effect in sparing muscle glycogen during work, but could significantly enhance the resynthesis of glycogen after work.

Using information available in the medical and sports medicine literature, a pilot program of exercise for pregnant women was designed for implementation at the local YMCA. The exercises consisted of 1) calisthenics and stretching exercises performed for 20 to 30 minutes and 2) a similar time period of aerobic exercise at no more than 70 percent predicted maximum pulse. Each of these was conducted formally three times weekly with participants urged to perform the exercises on their own at additional times. A group of nine women was followed from 14-16 weeks gestation through delivery and for 6 weeks postpartum and was matched with a group of four nonexercising controls. Both groups were tested by predicted maximum oxygen uptake during bicycle ergometer testing. To date, 37 women have participated and delivered with no untoward side effects in either mothers or offspring. In addition, considerable subjective benefits were stated by participants. Objective quantification of these benefits requires greater numbers of participants and controls, a longer period of time (estimate 3 years) to complete data collection, and more vigorous data collection in terms of reproducibility and meeting the schedule desired.

Five policemen (26-46 years) participated in a Police Fitness Program lasting for 13 to 16 weeks. They either jogged or combined walking and jogging for a minimum of two miles per session until the time of the post test. As a result, all of the officers reduced their percentage of body fat, and four of the five policemen increased their maximal oxygen consumption. Training had no effect on the initial heart rate response to a fifteen second sudden exertion run on the treadmill at nine mph., twenty percent incline. The rate of recovery, however, was improved in all subjects. No electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed either before or after training. Because a limited number of subjects completed the study, the amount of data was insufficient to make any conclusive statements about the effects of physical training on the heart rate and electrocardiographic response to sudden exertion.

Background: Physical activity (PA) reduces visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in adults; however, the dose to reduce VAT in youth is unclear. Objective: To examine whether high intensity PA preferentially reduces waist circumference (WC) and VAT compared to lower intensity PA. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: Youth were 13-18yrs, overweight, with one additional risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Intervention: 6-months, exercising 3 times/week at a high intensity (70-85% of Heart Rate Reserve HRR), or low intensity (40-55% HRR). Primary outcome: VAT (cm2) measured by MRI at L4-L5, and WC at the height of the iliac crest (cm). Results: 94 Youth were randomized to either high intensity (n=30); low intensity (n=32) or control (n=32). Changes in WC and VAT were not significant across groups. A trend towards a reduction in VAT in the training groups, compared to controls was demonstrated in sub-analysis (-14.3 ± 9.6 % vs. +0.01 ± 0.4 %, p= 0.059). Peak fitness increased significantly in both the high and low intensity arms (1.3 ± 0.6 and 1.4 ± 0.6 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Training at 55-65% HRR improves fitness by ~10%, and ~2 days/week elicits modest non-significant reductions in VAT in overweight youth.

The thesis investigates the effects that the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) has on the Higher Education sector. The alternative view presented by the thesis is that more knowledge can be created by concentrating on the different constituents of the RAE and their specific interactions with particular areas of the Higher Education sector. The RAE constituents are interpreted as drivers that influence and impact, in dissimilar fashions, on different activities of Higher Education Institutions (HEI). This micro analysis of the RAE enables the investigation to isolate the single effects of the RAE drivers therefore creating a bottom-up analysis of the overall impact of the RAE. The analysis of the impact that the drivers have on HEIs’ activities focuses on the perception that individuals within the system have of the consequences of the RAE. The focus on perceptions derives from personal observation of the lack of consensus on the consequences that different drivers have on different areas. The use of perceptions as the mean to assess the impact of the RAE enables the investigation to create a picture of the consequences of the RAE that addresses behavioural change. A multi-dimensional crystal view approach is used to accommodate both the micro analysis and the perception assessment. The multi-dimensional crystal view, a research contribution in its own right, is based on the principle that a micro analysis of a complex system can be achieved by decomposing the system into a number of dimensions. Insight is draw when the interactions between some of the dimensions are investigated. In the specific case of the RAE the dimension are: the RAE drivers, HEIs’ activities and points of observation (dimension that captures perceptions). Knowledge and insight can be acquired when the interactions between the dimensions are aggregated at successive higher levels. The supporting tool for the multidimensional crystal view approach is a matrix that facilitates the analytical process. The aggregation of the dimensions comes from combining textual statements from the points of observation (perceptions) on the effects that the drivers of the RAE have on the activities of HEIs. The highest level is a textual statement that synthesises all lower level statements.

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This study was designed to characterize the cardiac output (Q$ sb{ rm c}$) response to progressive submaximal upright (U) exercise in CF patients. Secondly, the Q$ sb{ rm c}$ adjustments were compared to those of similar supine (S) exercise, in an attempt to assess myocardial accommodation to the enhanced ventricular preload in the S posture. Q$ sb{ rm c}$ generally increased with exercise intensity in both U and S positions, although gr.IV plateaued at 50% VO$ sb2$max (S). Maximal stroke volume index (SI) was achieved at 50% VO$ sb2$max (U) in all groups, except gr.IV and at 30% VO$ sb2$max (S) in all groups. The change from U to S posture resulted in a significant (p $ le$.05) increase in SI at rest and for every submaximal exercise in gr.I, but not in CF patients, independent of disease severity eg(Rest:gr.I:27 $ pm$ 7(U) vs 39 $ pm$ 8(S); gr.II:24 $ pm$ 5vs28 $ pm$ 10; gr.III:18 $ pm$ 4 vs 22 $ pm$ 5; gr.IV:17 $ pm$ 4 vs 20 $ pm$ 6 ml/bt/m$ sp2$). These observations suggest a limitation in ventricular volume accommodation in CF patients which becomes apparent under the S exercise conditions.