| The selection of exercise intensity during television distraction was studied in 20 highly-fit males (VO2peak: 63.2 ± 10.7 ml·kg −1·min−1) between the ages of 28 and 45 years. It was hypothesized that the perception of exercise intensity during cardiovascular exercise would be influenced by an environmental distraction, such as watching television (TV). A within-subjects design was used to compare heart rate (HR), stride frequency (SF), and MET level responses recorded during 15 minutes of exercise performed with and without distraction. Seventeen of the 20 subjects had a change in HR of greater than 5 bpm between conditions, with 9 subjects decreasing HR by 10 ± 4.9 bpm and 8 subjects increasing HR by 9 ± 2.3 bpm during the television distraction condition. The direction of response to treatment was not explained by fitness level or subject age, height or weight. It is conjectured that subjects who reported a preference for exercising with TV distraction increased HR and MET level compared to subjects who stated a preference for exercising without TV distraction. |
