The acute effects of different indoor cycling protocols on the physiological responses and the rate of perceived exertion

Abstract

The physiological responses control during group activities at gym can be used as marker of prescription and adjustment of load in training. Being so, the aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of continuous and interval training, when applied in indoor cycling protocols, on physiological responses of heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (LAC) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Ten men [(mean ± SD): age: 27.44 ± 4.62 years; % fat: 13.11 ± 4.41 %; max: 55.37 ± 3.29 ml.kg-1.min-1] volunteered for this study. All subjects were practicing indoor cycling 3-5 times a week, for at least six months. Data for the study was collected during the Continuous and Interval protocols, performed on stationary ergometer bicycle. ANOVA test presented significant lower HR and LAC during exercise Interval protocol (p < 0.05), but no differences in the RPE (Borg’s scale) was found between Continuous and Interval training protocols by Wilcoxon test. The study suggests that the two protocols studied can be applied to different programs of indoor cycling, but only by using physiological and perceptual responses to control exercise intensity and to establish secure levels for its practice.