The Pleasure and Displeasure People Feel When they Exercise at Different Intensities

Abstract

The public health problem of physical inactivity has proven resistant to research efforts aimed at elucidating its causes and interventions designed to alter its course. Thus, in most industrialized countries, the majority of the population is physically inactive or inadequately active. Most theoretical models of exercise behaviour assume that the decision to engage in exercise is based on cognitive factors (e.g. weighing pros and cons, appraising personal capabilities, evaluating sources of support). Another, still-under-appreciated, possibility is that these decisions are influenced by affective variables, such as whether previous exercise experiences were associated with pleasure or displeasure. This review examines 33 articles published from 1999 to 2009 on the relationship between exercise intensity and affective responses. Unlike 31 studies that were published until 1998 and were examined in a 1999 review, these more recent studies have provided evidence of a relation between the intensity of exercise and affective responses. Pleasure is reduced mainly above the ventilatory or lactate threshold or the onset of blood lactate accumulation. There are pleasant changes at sub-threshold intensities for most individuals, large inter-individual variability close to the ventilatory or lactate threshold and homogeneously negative changes at supra-threshold intensities. When the intensity is self-selected, rather than imposed, it appears to foster greater tolerance to higher intensity levels. The evidence of a dose-response relation between exercise intensity and affect sets the stage for a reconsideration of the rationale behind current guidelines for exercise intensity prescription. Besides effectiveness and safety, it is becoming increasingly clear that the guidelines should take into account whether a certain level of exercise intensity would be likely to cause increases or decreases in pleasure.

Correlates of Mood and RPE During Multi-Lap Off-Road Cycling

“…These results further corroborate suggestion that displeasure sensations are associated with high intensity exercise (Ekkekakis et al 2011;Kilpatrick et al 2007). Interestingly, however neither the TMD nor the other POMS subscales had any predictive value in RPE responses during the MLTT.…”

Repeated Effects of Vigorous Interval Training in Basketball, Running-Biking, and Boxing on the Physical Self-Perceptions of Obese Adolescents

“…This difference can be explained by the fact that in the basketball VIT sessions, the adolescents spent a longer time on the court, which may have led them to continuously perceive their physical condition and sport competence more positively. Moreover, in the running-biking VIT, the first two sessions may have been uncomfortable and unpleasant because of the duration of vigorous intensity (Ekkekakis, Parfitt, & Petruzzello, 2011). These negative feelings may have thus led these adolescents to perceive themselves as less competent in terms of physical condition in running-biking.…”

“…Indeed, the length of the workout or rest may play a role in the pleasure and tolerance as a dose effect. Although exercise intensity is often associated with such affective responses as displeasure, because of fatigue or anxiety, it could also yield some positive changes, such as improvement of self-esteem (Ekkekakis et al, 2011). Stronger, unusual, and unexpected sensations due to enhanced physical prowess or performance (perceived or real) could be related to the improvement of PSP.…”

Exploring Perceptions of Barriers, Facilitators, and Motivators to Physical Activity Among Female Bariatric Patients

“…This heightened physiological response may prompt comparisons to others when exercising in group settings, leading to increased frustration and self consciousness about fluidity of movement as well as embarrassment at increased perspiring and breathlessness. Moreover, anticipation of increased pain post-exercise in combination with the aforementioned negative states may ultimately dampen motivation to persist with regular PA or exercise (Wingo et al 2010, Ekkekakis et al 2011. Therefore, traditional aerobic and resistance exercise regimens featuring percussion, which can increase joint pain, flexibility (e.g, toe touching), rapid changes in posture or position (e.g., toe-touching, alternating floorbased and standing exercises), strenuous cardiovascular activity, or balance (e.g., tree pose) are not optimal for obese individuals.…”