Assessing of exercise intensity for a rhythmik exercise program based on cardiopulmonary functions

Abstract

This study investigated the determination of exercise intensity for a rhythmik exercise program based on cardiopulmonary functions. Nine female participants in their 20s to 40s performed a rhythmik exercise program for 60 min per session, three sessions weekly, for 8 weeks. All participants underwent a grade exercise test to measure their minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO₂), maximal volume of minute oxygen consumption (VO_2max), heart rate (HR), and oxygen pulse (O₂ pulse) at the time of anaerobic threshold (AT) and maximal exercise time (ET_max). To determine the exercise intensity of the rhythmik exercise program, the Polar Heart Monitor was used for quantification, and the Borg Scale was used to measure the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). We did not observe any significant effects on the reaching time of AT, VE, VO₂, VO_2max, HR, and O₂ pulse at either AT or ET_max. However, maximal value of VE (VE_max) was significantly enhanced at ET_max. The exercise intensity of the rhythmik exercise program was found to be low at 62.85% of HR_max with an RPE of 12.22. Our results suggest that the rhythmik exercise program did not directly improve cardiopulmonary functions; however, considering the unstructured nature of the rhythmik exercise program, anticipated positive effects on cardiopulmonary fitness are achievable through changes in the program contents and exercise time according to the goals of the participants.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary functions; Exercise intensity; Maximum oxygen uptake; Rhythmik exercise program.