Stay True to Your Workout: Does Repeated Physical Testing Boost Exercise Attendance? A One-Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

No prospective studies have investigated if repeated testing of physical performance and body composition are associated with exercise attendance or patterns in fitness club members. This study aimed to investigate if repeated physical testing was associated with exercise attendance and patterns in gym members and to report prospective data on use of the fitness club`s facilities and products. Untrained new members were recruited and divided into a test group (n = 125) and as controls (n = 125). All participants answered a survey including exercise involvement, at onset, and after 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up. The test group also measured body composition, maximal oxygen uptake, and maximal muscle strength (onset, and after 3 and 12 months). In total 73.6% answered all surveys, and in the test group, 44.8% completed all physical tests. Regular exercise attendance was defined as ≥2 sessions/week. Repeated testing showed no association with long-term regular exercise attendance (test group: 19.6%, controls: 19.8%; p = 0.638). At 3 months, a lower proportion in the test group reported engagement in resistance exercise (35.3% and 60.2%; p = 0.003) and had lower exercise frequency (2.0 and 2.6 days/week; p = 0.008) than controls. The test group had higher participation in group exercise classes (28.0% and 13.6%; p = 0.040). Exercise frequency decreased from onset to 12 months (from 2.6 to 2.2 days/week; p = 0.025) At 3, 6, and 12 months, 51.8%, 37.6%, and 37.4% reported regular exercise attendance, and 16.9% at all follow-ups. At all time-points, most common workout mode was individual resistance exercise (43.8% to 46.3%). Few attended group exercise classes (7.5% to 13.8%) or used a personal trainer (22.5% to 27.5%). Repeated physical testing did not improve exercise attendance, and we found no changes in members` use of the fitness club`s facilities and products. Only 16.9% reported regular exercise attendance throughout the first year of membership.

The Coronavirus pandemic and closed fitness clubs negatively affected members exercise habits

“…In contrast to this, adults have reported more time to exercise during lockdown ( 45 ), and time constraints have previously been reported as a main barrier for regular exercise among fitness club members ( 38 ). Even though adults possibly had more leisure time for exercise during lockdown ( 45 ), closure of fitness clubs eliminates a comfortably climate-controlled exercise arena that offers a variety of exercise equipment and concepts, and personal trainers and fitness instructors providing exercise supervision ( 11 , 20 ). Even though home exercise, including online and multimedia training approaches, are proposed as feasible, several adults have reported a lack of interest, a reduced effort during exercise, and a perception of less effective exercise during lockdown ( 17 , 18 , 46 ).…”

“…A fitness club has equipment not available to most in a home-based setting, and as such facilitates engagement in e.g., resistance exercise, a common workout mode at fitness clubs ( 20 ). Even though the closing of fitness clubs was inevitable to cope with the pandemic, it forced millions of members to stay at home and limited their opportunities to engage in exercise.…”

The effects of physical exercise on physical fitness and executive function in children with excessive body weight

“…Physical exercise exerts a plethora of bene cial physiological, psychological and neurocognitive effects: improving physical tness, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improving memory and executive functions. A growing body of literature has documented that physical exercise is known to improve physical tness in adults, adolescents, and children [15][16][17]. Moreover, physical exercise improved executive function: extensive information processing, such as attention, inhibitory control and working memor [18][19].…”

Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Push-Up Performance among Male Gymnasium Members

“…The common position as stated by Azeem and Mohammed (2019) [15] is a prone position by extending and lowering the arms repetitively. While, according to Baumgartner, Oh, Chung, and Hales (2002) [16], they stated about a 90° angle at the elbow during downward movement of push -up. It is important to maintain a proper body positioning throughout push -up activity to build strength and stamina, as well as to limit the potential injury (Hewit, Jaffe, & Bedard, 2018) [17].…”