title: The Impact of Continuous and Interval Cycle Exercise on Affect and Enjoyment.
abstract: Rates of physical activity remain low despite public health efforts. One form of physical activity that provides significant physiological benefit but has not been evaluated in terms of affective and enjoyment responses is interval exercise.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare affect and enjoyment assessed before, during, and after interval and continuous exercise sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four participants (12 men, 12 women; body mass index = 24 ± 4, maximal oxygen consumption = 41 ± 5 mL/kg/min) completed a maximal cycle ergometer test used to prescribe experimental trials: (a) moderate continuous, (b) heavy continuous, (c) heavy interval, and (d) severe interval. All trials were 20 min in length, and all intervals utilized 60-s segments and a 1:1 work-to-rest ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Affective and enjoyment responses were significantly less positive for the heavy continuous trials in comparison with all other trials during exercise (p < .05; ES = .2-.8). Additionally, both severe and heavy interval exercise were more enjoyable than heavy continuous exercise (p > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that interval protocols produce affective and enjoyment responses that are equal to moderate continuous exercise and more positive than heavy continuous exercise. These results indicate that interval-based exercise may be a viable alternative to continuous exercise in the promotion of health and fitness.
authors: a University of South Florida.
authors: Marcus W
authors: MW
authors: Kilpatrick
authors: Samuel J
authors: SJ
authors: Greeley
authors: Larry H
authors: LH
authors: Collins
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dual mode; high-intensity; perceptions; sprint