Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-1992

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Education

Major Professor

Edward T. Howley

Abstract

The latest trend in aerobic dance is "step aerobics." Many in the industry have claimed that this new mode is the best aerobic exercise for expending calories and using fat as fuel. To test this claim, the heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and respiratory exchange ratio were measured during walking and compared with values measured during stepping exercises that simulated "step aerobics". Nine subjects volunteered to participate in the study. All subjects were tested in three different areas. First, their maximum oxygen uptake was determined; second, all the subjects were measured for energy expenditure at four different predetermined step heights; and finally, the energy expenditure of the subjects was measured while they walked at 100 m/min at four different grades that approximated the four VO2's measured while stepping. No significant differences were found between the two types of exercise for the rating of perceived exertion (P = .9072) and the respiratory exchange ratio (P = .9495) at any of the four levels of exercise. However, there was a significant difference (P = .0439) observed between the heart rates measured while stepping and while walking. While there were significantly higher heart rate responses to stepping compared to walking at the same oxygen uptake, it was concluded that step aerobics is not significantly different than walking for expending calories and for using fat as a fuel.

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