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Changes in physical fitness in moderately fit adults with and without the use of exercise telemetry monitors

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Abstract

One of the goals of exercise prescription is the use of easily understandable physical activities to improve physical fitness. Lack of study designs investigating self-administered programs utilizing exercise telemetry monitors (ETM) compared to a no exercise telemetry monitors (NETM) guided exercise programs exist. The aim of the study was to determine whether the ETM programs improve physical fitness more than NETM programs and to measure differences between males and females. Fifty-one adults were randomly divided into either the ETM group (n = 34, age = 37.9 ± 5.0 years, BMI = 24.6 ± 3.0, VO2 = 37.9 ± 7.7 ml kg−1 min−1) or the NETM group (n = 27, age = 39.6 ± 5.5 years, BMI = 24.5 ± 4.2, VO2 = 40.8 ± 6.5 ml kg−1 min−1). All subjects completed a maximal incremental treadmill test to determine their submaximal and maximal running performance, oxygen uptake (VO2peak, VO2-AT, VO2–70%, km h−1 peak, km h−1 AT, km h−1 70%) before and after 10 weeks of an unsupervised exercise program. All exercise sessions for ETM and NETM groups were individually recorded and analyzed. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that running performance at anaerobic threshold increased significantly in ETM vs. NETM groups (P ≤ 0.03). Males in the ETM group improved significantly in all variables of VO2, and in km h−1 AT after 10 week. No significant differences in VO2 were found for female groups. Based on the exercise records, women in the NETM group completed significantly more sessions (P ≤ 0.03), specifically more moderately intense sessions (P ≤ 0.02), compared to the ETM-female group. Males did not differ in total exercise sessions; however, ETM-men completed significantly more light sessions (P ≤ 0.01) compared to men in NETM. Running was the activity of choice. After 10 weeks of telemetry monitor prescribed exercise program, only men, but not women, improved in physical fitness.

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Acknowledgment

The study was supported by Polar Electro Oy (Kempele, Finland).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Susanne Ring-Dimitriou, Monika Stadlmann, Oliver Drachta & Erich Müller

  2. Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland

    Hannu Kinnunen & Raija Laukkanen

  3. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Performance and Biological Sciences, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX, 75429-3011, USA

    Serge P. von Duvillard & Sandy Weeks

  4. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX, USA

    Jena Hamra

  5. Department of Health and Physical Education, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX, USA

    Kayla Peak

Authors
  1. Susanne Ring-Dimitriou
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  2. Serge P. von Duvillard
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  3. Monika Stadlmann
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  4. Hannu Kinnunen
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  5. Oliver Drachta
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  6. Erich Müller
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  7. Raija Laukkanen
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  8. Jena Hamra
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  9. Sandy Weeks
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  10. Kayla Peak
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Correspondence to Serge P. von Duvillard.

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Ring-Dimitriou, S., von Duvillard, S.P., Stadlmann, M. et al. Changes in physical fitness in moderately fit adults with and without the use of exercise telemetry monitors. Eur J Appl Physiol 102, 505–513 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0615-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0615-4

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