The effects of a ten-week step aerobic training program on aerobic capacity of college-aged females
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 10-week step
aerobic training program on the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) of
college-aged women (mean age - 19.4 yrs). Fifty apparently healthy
females between the ages of 18 and 25 years participated in the training
study. Subjects in the experimental group exercised 3 times per week
for 10 weeks. The average heart rate maintained during the training was
150 bpm which represented 76% of HRmax. Twenty-one experimental group
Ss and 29 control group Ss performed a maximal treadmill test to
volitional exhaustion prior to and upon completion of the study. The
variables analyzed included resting HR (bpm), body weight (lbs), rating
of perceived exertion (RPE), treadmill run time, absolute VO2max
(L/min), relative VO2max (ml/kg/min), VEmax (BTPS) (L/min), RERmax, and
HRmax (bpm). The results showed significant (p < .05) between-group
differences in mean treadmill run time, absolute VO2max, relative
V02max, HRmax, and VEmax. The experimental group had increases in
treadmill run time (33.1%), absolute VO2max (11.5%), relative VO2max
(11.7%), HRmax (l.O%), and VEmax (6.7%) which were significantly greater
than the control group. No significant (p > .05) between-group
differences were observed in body weight, RERmax, RPE, and resting HR.
Subject
Step aerobics - Physiological aspects
Exercise for women - Physiological aspects