Passive versus active exercise: An examination of affective change

In the examination of affective responses to acute aerobic exercise, researchers have plodded over the appropriate control condition to use in comparison with aerobic exercise, as a true placebo has eluded the field. This has resulted in a variety of conditions constituting “control” in the literature (quiet rest, reading, sitting in a chair on a treadmill, stretching, etc.). One option that holds merit but has yet to be tested is that of passive exercise. As such the purpose of the present study was to examine the psychological and physiological effects of active versus passive exercise. A total of 17 (7 females) participated in both an Active exercise session (they pedaled a cycle ergometer) and a Passive exercise session (the ergometer pedals were moved by a motor while their feet were attached). Enjoyment, heart rate, and perception of exertion were higher in the Active session, but there were no differences in terms of other affective responses (e.g., energy, tension, calmness, state anxiety, valenced affect). The only affective variable that changed differently in the two conditions was Tiredness, which decreased following Active exercise but did not change following Passive exercise. The findings are discussed with respect to placebo and expectancy effects, with directions for future investigation in both able-bodied as well as spinal cord injured individuals.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Rougeau, Kathryn M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Petruzzello, Steven J.

• affective response
• passive exercise

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Kathryn Rougeau

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/88226

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/88226