The effect of intensity controlled aerobic dance exercise on aerobic capacity of middle‐aged, overweight women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of intensity controlled exercise on the aerobic capacity of overweight, middle-aged women. Thirty-eight moderately overweight women, ages 35-57, participated in a 16-week dance-exercise program. Random assignment was made to an experimental group (n = 20) in which intensity of exercise was controlled and prescribed, and a control group (n = 18) in which exercise was of an intensity typical to commercial aerobic classes. Prior to the onset of training, and at the completion of 16 weeks, the following fitness tests were administered: Aerobic capacity expressed as VO2 max, body composition analysis, blood chemistry, blood pressure, resting heart rate, muscular endurance, and flexibility. T-tests, ANCOVA, and gain-score analyses were utilized to evaluate data. Both groups showed small changes in weight, percent fat, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), muscular endurance, and flexibility, but these changes were statistically nonsignificant. The VO2 max for the experimental group increased 41%, while the VO2 max for the control group increased 22% (p less than 0.05). The results suggest that the cardiovascular fitness changes for overweight, middle-aged women are greater when exercise intensity and progression are tailored to their age and fitness level.

Low Impact Aerobic Dance as a Useful Exercise Mode for Reducing Body Mass in Mildly Obese Middle-Aged Women.

“…These improvements in maximal and submaximal aerobic power are in agreement with previous studies using aerobic dance training for non-obese people (Blessing et al, 1987;Dowdy et al, 1985;Parker et al, 1989;Walberg, 1989;Williams and Morton, 1986;Willford et al, 1988). Gillett and Eisenman (1987) reported a rise of 41% in maximal aerobic power which surpassed what had been reported in other training studies. However, the length of the training period was longer than in other investigations (16 weeks vs 10 to 12 weeks).…”

“…However, the length of the training period was longer than in other investigations (16 weeks vs 10 to 12 weeks). Several investigators, who used 3-d/wk training regimen, have demonstrated significant improvements in maximal aerobic power following several weeks of dance exercise (Gillett and Eisenman, 1987;Moore et al, 1988;Williford et al, 1989). However, it seems that for women previously trained with traditional high impact aerobic dance, low impact dance may not be sufficiently demanding as a training alternative to maintain maximal aerobic power.…”

Older Women's Feelings About Exercise and Their Adherence to an Aerobic Regimen Over Time

“…The items were derived from previous work of the principal investigator concerning the responses of older and middle-aged women to exercise programs (Gillett, 1988(Gillett, , 1993Gillett & Eisenman, 1987). For each item, the respondent rated how important that facet of exercise was for her on a scale from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (very important).…”

Heart rate during aerobics classes in women with different previous experience of aerobics

“…Clapp and Little 1994;Thomsen and Ballor 1991) have shown that the intensity level of performance of the instructor and the participants dier dramatically during aerobics classes, and that the physiological responses to exercise are individual. Gillett and Eisenman (1987) emphasized the importance of tailoring the intensity of the exercise to the individual and concluded that changes in cardiovascular ®tness in overweight women are greater when the exercise intensity is tailored to their ages and level of ®tness. According to Hawley et al (1990) instructors tend to create separate exercise routines at low and higher intensity levels.…”