Edgar F. Pierce

Mood Alterations with a Single Bout of Physical Activity

Although numerous studies have examined the relationship among affect, personality, and physical activity, results are equivocal. Critics have cited inadequate experimental designs and analyses as the bases for ambiguity. This study addressed two identified weaknesses, length of exercise regimen and improper selection of subjects. Subjects were 72 college-age students who participated in one of three 75-min. activity classes (running, karate, weight lifting) and a lecture class (control subjects). The Profile of Mood States Test was administered prior to and immediately after exercise bouts. Analyses of variance and multiple t tests indicated that participating in a single bout of exercise significantly reduced reported total mood disturbance, tension, depression, anger, and confusion.

Mood Alterations in Older Adults following Acute Exercise

Limited research indicates positive affective change following acute bouts of exercise, but whether this improved affect among younger subjects may be generalized to older individuals is not known. The present study, then, examined the effects of a single bout of physical activity among older participants. 16 trained women (Moge = 64.5 ± 7.6 yr.) completed an abbreviated Profile of Mood States prior to and immediately following a 75-min. session of aerobic line dancing. A series of one-way analyses of variance with repeated measures were used to examine differences between pre- and posttest subscores on mood states. Significant decreases following exercise in scores on Tension, Depression, Fatigue, and Anger and a significant increase in scores on Vigor relative to preexercise (control) scores were found. Global mood was significantly improved after the exercise session. No significant difference was found between pre- and postexercise measures of Confusion. Previous findings of significant improvements in affect immediately after an acute bout of exercise may be generalized to older adults. Repetition with a nonexercised control group is desirable.

Scores on exercise dependence among dancers

A number of researchers have suggested that the syndrome of exercise dependence (addiction) is paralleled by a tendency towards eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. As considerable research has reported a high incidence of eating disorders among dancers and as rigorous physical demands are inherent in dance, we hypothesized that dancers would present a higher profile of exercise dependence on the Negative Addiction Scale than other athletes. To test this hypothesis, 47 female ballet and modern dancers completed a survey on exercise dependence adapted from Hailey and Bailey (1982) to assess quantitatively exercise dependence. Scores were compared with those obtained from 39 female endurance (running) athletes and 16 female nonendurance (field hockey) athletes. Significantly higher scores on dependence for dancers than for endurance or nonendurance athletes were noted. The data indicate that dancers may be at greater risk for psychophysiological problems associated with exercise dependence than other athletes and so should be monitored for symptoms.

DISTORTION OF BODY IMAGE AMONG ELITE FEMALE DANCERS

To examine body image and possible distortion of body image among elite female dancers 10 members of a professional ballet company rated both current and ideal body shape. In addition, an objective measure of body composition was obtained via skinfold techniques, t tests indicated that the mean rating for current body image was significantly higher than the rating for ideal, despite the fact that body-composition measures for all subjects were in an “ideal” range according to normative standards. Analysis indicated a high distortion of body image among these dancers and support psychophysiological concerns previously raised.

Perceptions of current and ideal body shape of athletes and nonathletes

This study was done to examine the relationship between sex and perception of body image among athletes and nonathletes. A total of 211 men and women athletes and nonathletes completed a questionnaire which asked them to identify from a nine-figure body-silhouette scale their current image and the image that they thought was most ideal. t tests showed no significant differences for men based upon athletic participation and that both athletes and nonathletes were satisfied with their body image. However, when comparing current image and ideal image, significant differences were found for women athletes and nonathletes. These data support previous research documenting womens dissatisfaction with their body images and show athletic participation is not associated with this perception.

SEX DIFFERENCES ON EXERCISE DEPENDENCE FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN A MARATHON ROAD RACE

Considerable research has documented a tendency towards exercise dependence among habitual exercisers; however, little research on possible differences in exercise dependence among men and women has been done. This question seems worthy of study given associations between exercise dependence and eating behavior problems and a greater incidence of eating disorders among women than men. Subjects, 18 men and 14 women competing in a marathon road race, completed an exercise dependence survey developed by Hailey and Bailey in 1982. There are 14 equally weighted items which focus exclusively on psychological rather than physiological aspects of exercise dependence. Analysis of variance indicated the women reported significantly higher scores (3.9±1.7) than men (3.7±1.2, p<.05) While the design does not allow assessment of mechanisms underlying the result, one may express concern about the motives for participation in athletic competition.

Effect of induced alkalosis on swimming time trials

Previous studies have shown that sodium bicarbonate ingestion prior to exercise may improve performance during repeated (interval) bouts. To examine the practical implications of such findings, seven collegiate swimmers participated in simulated swim competitions of multiple events following sodium bicarbonate (B) ingestion, placebo (P) ingestion and control (C--no ingestion) treatments. Each swimmer reported to the laboratory 1 h prior to the simulated competitions (72 h apart) and was randomly assigned to one of the three experimental treatments. Competition consisted of one relay (100 yards; 91.4 m) and two individual (200 yards; 182.8 m) swimming events with 20 min rest between events. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures revealed no significant differences in performance times as a result of the three treatments (P greater than 0.05). The results suggest that sodium bicarbonate ingestion prior to swim competition consisting of significant rest intervals between events is not an ergogenic procedure.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAINING VOLUME AND MOOD STATES IN COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS DURING A 24-WEEK SEASON

Mood states have been shown to be sensitive to periods of overtraining among endurance athletes. To examine the relationship between training volume and specific mood states, the Profile of Mood States was administered biweekly to 12 male and 17 female collegiate swimmers over the course of a competitive season. Pearson correlations were estimates of the relationship between mean subscores and training volume. Mean training volume for the comparison periods ranged from 3,868 to 12,500 meters/day. Mean ratings of both Anger and Vigor were significantly negatively correlated with training volume (−.58 and −.54, respectively). In addition, Fatigue was significantly correlated with training volume (r = .53), but the mean subscores for Tension, Depression, Confusion, and Global Mood were not significantly correlated with training volume. Results support previous research reporting mood disturbances with increased training volumes but do not support suggestions of an increased tendency towards higher scores on depression.

Plasma ß‐endorphin immunoreactivity: Response to resistance exercise

Previous research investigating the response of plasma s‐endorphins (s‐EP) to resistance exercise has resulted in equivocal findings. To further examine the effects of resistance exercise on s‐endorphin immunoreactivity, six resistance‐trained athletes participated in a three‐set series of eight repetitions of isotonic exercise. All exercises were performed at 80% maximal effort. Blood was sampled from the group by venepuncture, both prior to and following the exercise bout, and s‐endorphin concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. The results indicated that mean ( ± S.E.) plasma levels of s‐endorphins following exercise (18.04 ± 3.4 pg s‐EP ml‐1) were not significantly changed from pre‐exercise (control) levels (19.59 ± 2.4 pg s‐EP ml‐1), although there was considerable inter‐individual variability. Our results support previous research which has reported no significant changes in s‐endorphin immunoreactivity following resistance exercise, as well as reported findings of considerable variability ...

Metabolic demands and perceived exertion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Emergency situations often require continuous execution of one-person cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for periods of time in excess of 30 minutes. The limited research which has examined the demands of the procedure has focused on central physiological measures, despite (1) the use of a subjective end-point for termination of CPR (i.e., exhaustion) as stated in professional guidelines, and (2) significant peripheral involvement in the form of muscular exertion, a phenomenon more closely linked to Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) than to central factors. To examine subjective responses to performing CPR, 8 healthy, sedentary subjects [M age = 20.8 (yr.) ± .4; weight (kg) 82.6 ± 7.1; height (cm) 183.7 ± 2.8] reported differentiated Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) following 10 minutes of one-person CPR testing. While metabolic data observed during CPR support previous research suggesting that the energy demands of performing CPR are relatively low, both peripheral and over-all RPE were significantly higher than central (respiratory-metabolic) RPE. Over-all RPE was also significantly greater than peripheral RPE. The data suggest research investigating CPR demands based on central measures may underestimate actual as well as perceived demands of performing the procedure. In addition, the considerable interindividual variability in the relative energy cost (% VO2 max) of performing one-person CPR suggests that the fitness level of the individual may be a limiting factor in the ability to perform CPR for extended periods of time.