A1 Journal article (refereed)
Exercise enjoyment does not predict change in maximal aerobic power during a strenuous 10-week endurance exercise intervention (2024)


Matomäki, P., Heinonen, O. J., Nummela, A., Kokkonen, M., & Kyröläinen, H. (2024). Exercise enjoyment does not predict change in maximal aerobic power during a strenuous 10-week endurance exercise intervention. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 16(1), 89-98. https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2024-0009


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Matomäki, Pekka; Heinonen, Olli J.; Nummela, Ari; Kokkonen, Marja; Kyröläinen, Heikki

Journal or series: Biomedical Human Kinetics

ISSN: 2080-2234

eISSN: 2080-2234

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 01/01/2024

Volume: 16

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 89-98

Publisher: Sciendo

Publication country: Poland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2024-0009

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93900


Abstract

Study aim: Although exercise enjoyment is well studied in behavioral context, its associations to aerobic fitness adaptations during exercise interventions have received less attention.
Material and methods: Untrained participants (n = 37, 21 females), cycled either at low intensity (LIT) (n = 18, mean training time 6.7 ± 0.7 h/week) or high intensity (HIT) with 3–7 min working intervals (n = 19, 1.6 ± 0.2 h /week) for 10 weeks. Aerobic capacity, defined as the power associated with maximal oxygen uptake, was the performance outcome. Exercise enjoyment was measured after all exercise sessions during the first and the last week of the intervention.
Results: Exercise enjoyment did not predict the change of aerobic capacity (p = 0.93) and was not associated to the weekly perceived exertion (p > 0.20). Mean (95% CI) enjoyment decreased equally (time × group difference p = 0.98, ηp 2 < 0.001) in both groups [LIT: -7 (-13– -1); HIT: -7 (-14–0)].
Conclusions: Overall, enjoyment does not seem to be a suitable method to individualize training for improving aerobic capacity. Further, exercise enjoyment decreased during strenuous exercise intervention, and it is not a variable that affects how participants rate their overall weekly perceived exertion.


Keywords: training; physical training; endurance training; aerobic training

Free keywords: low intensity training; high intensity training; exercise enjoyment; PACES; responder


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2024-03-07 at 00:27