Affect-regulated exercise intensity: does training at an intensity that feels 'good' improve physical health?
OBJECTIVE
Affect-regulated exercise to feel 'good' can be used to control exercise intensity amongst both active and sedentary individuals and should support exercise adherence. It is not known, however, whether affect-regulated exercise training can lead to physical health gains. The aim of this study was to examine if affect-regulated exercise to feel 'good' leads to improved fitness over the course of an 8-week training programme.


METHODS
A repeated measures design (pretest-posttest) with independent groups (training and control).


METHODS
20 sedentary females completed a submaximal graded exercise test and were then allocated to either a training group or control group. The training group completed two supervised sessions and one unsupervised session per week for 8 weeks. Exercise intensity was affect-regulated to feel 'good'. Following the 8 weeks of training, both groups completed a second submaximal graded exercise test.


RESULTS
Repeated measures analyses of variance indicated a significant increase in the time to reach ventilatory threshold in the training group (318 ± 23.7s) compared to control (248 ± 16.9s). Overall compliance to training was high (>92%). Participants in the training group exercised at intensities that would be classified as being in the lower range of the recommended guidelines (≈ 50% V˙O(2) max) for cardiovascular health.


CONCLUSIONS
Affect-regulated exercise to feel 'good' can be used in a training programme to regulate exercise intensity. This approach led to a 19% increase in time to reach ventilatory threshold, which is indicative of improved fitness.
University of South Australia, Australia. Gaynor.Parfitt@unisa.edu.au
Gaynor
G
Parfitt
Amnah
A
Alrumh
Alex V
AV
Rowlands
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult