Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) the energy cost and (2) thepsycho-physiological effects of an aerobic dance programme in young women.Twenty-one college-age women participated 40 minutes a day, three days a week,for a 10-week training period. Each work session included a five-minute warmup period, a 30-minute stimulus period (including walk-runs) and a five-minutecool-down period. During the last four weeks of the training period, thefollowing parameters were monitored in six of the subjects during two consecutive sessions: perceived exertion (RPE) utilising the Borg 6-20 scale,Mean = 13.19; heart rate (HR) monitored at regular intervals during the training session, Mean = 166.37; and estimated caloric expenditure based on measured oxygen consumption (V02) utilising a Kofranyi-Michaelis respirometer,Mean = 289.32. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) computed between preand post tests for the six dependent variables revealed a significant approximate F-ratio of 5.72 (p .05). Univariate t-test analysis of mean changes revealed significant pre-post test differences for V02 max, maximal pulmonaryventilation, maximal working capacity on the bicycle ergometer, submaximal HRand submaximal RPE. Conclusion: the aerobic dance training programme employedwas of sufficient intensity to elicit significant physiological and psychophysiological alterations in college-age women. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)