LE3 .A278 2012

2012

Dogra, Shilpa

Acadia University

Bachelor of Kinesiology

Honours

Kinesiology

Kinesiology

Background Exercise‐efficacy is the situation specific form of confidence relating to exercise that has been associated with improved health. Research shows that participation in exercise can improve exercise‐efficacy and thus positively impact physical activity maintenance. Currently, 60% of Canada’s adult population is at risk for developing health problems related to physical inactivity; this risk is particularly high among middle‐aged adults. It is therefore imperative that measures to increase exercise‐efficacy among this cohort be taken. Previous research has indicated that high intensity exercise (HIE) may be particularly effective at improving exercise‐efficacy. An intervention of such nature among middle‐aged adults is thus warranted. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of HIE on the exercise‐efficacy of middle‐aged (45‐64 year old) participants. Methods Seven females and five males, with a mean age of 54.8 years, participated in the 10‐ week case‐control study. The first five weeks were used as a control period; while the final five weeks consisted of HIE sessions twice a week. The HIE sessions consisted of kickboxing, spin classes, sprints and circuit training classes and were designed to have the participants working out at a level of approximately 16‐17 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exhaustion Scale. Fitness assessments, held at week 5 and week 10, were also conducted to assess the fitness levels of the participants. An Exercise‐Efficacy Questionnaire (EEQ) was completed at weeks 0, 5 and 10 to assess x exercise self‐efficacy, same‐age exercise‐efficacy and younger‐age exercise‐efficacy (18‐25 years old) during the different stages of the experiment. Repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted using the three components of EEQ, over the three time points. Results It was found that over the duration of the experiment, all three components of exercise‐efficacy significantly improved. There was a significant difference between baseline and week 10 for all three components of the EEQ. There was also a significant improvement in EEQ from week 5 to week 10 for the EEQ component one and component two as well as significance between baseline and week 5 for EEQ component three. The five‐week intervention did not seem to impact aerobic or musculoskeletal fitness levels. Conclusion The results from this study suggest that HIE can improve exercise‐efficacy among middle‐aged adults within a 5 week period. These findings support the use of HIE to ensure adoption and maintenance of physically active lifestyles.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:884