The Effects of High Intensity Circuit Training in Nature Vs. Indoor on Exercise Performance, and Wellbeing

Summary

Exercising in a nature setting has been credited with benefits for health and well-being, more so than exercising indoors. Additionally, motoric performance in the same exercise (e.g., running speed, more strenuous physical activity) has been reported in some studies to be greater if practiced outdoors, in a nature setting. The explanation may be in the inherent variability of natural landscapes, the textures, elevations, obstacles and objects which are not found in standard built and indoor settings. Indoor settings are characterized by safe, organized, patterned textures and objects created for specific ends, which inhibit variability in physical and physiological behavior. Variability in the environment turns into variability in body systems, which benefits health, well-being, and skill acquisition.

Variability in behavior depends also on the task. Running or walking is essentially a journey throughout the environment in which interaction with obstacles, puddles, and other runners is part of the variability of the activity. On the other hand, physical activity such as HICT is done in a small area, and is a scripted, prescribed activity (e.g., push-ups, sit-ups), which lowers the amount of variability in behavior. The aim of this trial is to test if a low variability activity shows differences in performance, wellbeing, and behavior measures according to the amount of variability in the environment.

In this trial the participants will engage in two high intensity circuit training (HICT) interventions - one in an indoor setting, and another in a nature setting. The HICT intervention includes 12 calisthenic exercises, and will be performed at a self-selected intensity by the participants. Each exercise will be performed during one minute, followed by 30 seconds of rest where the participants will be instructed what the next exercise will be. Before exercising, the participants put a heart rate monitor and two inertial measurement units (IMUs) on the right arm and leg, according to the correct usage guidelines, and rate their positive affect, arousal, and perceived exertion. Immediately after exercising, they rate the same measures again.

Research Hypotheses:

Greater movement variability, heart rate variability, performance, wellbeing, and arousal during HICT in nature setting than indoor setting.

Conditions

• Green Exercise
• Indoor Exercise

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

High Intensity Circuit Training

The participants will execute a 12-exercise High Intensity Circuit Training protocol. Each exercise will have an active part taking 30 seconds, in which exercisers are encouraged to do as many repetitions as possible, and a resting part taking 10 seconds in which the participants rest and are informed of the next exercise. Before and after the 12-exercise routine, the participants rate their affect, arousal and perceived exertion, while using a heart rate monitor and two IMU sensors on their arms and legs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Faculdade de Motricidade Humana

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Henrique Brito, MSc · Faculdade de Motricidade Humana

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-10-15

Primary Completion

2023-11-30

Completion

2024-01-20

Countries

• Portugal

Study Locations