Oxygen uptake, heart rate and energy expenditure during slideboard routines at different cadence

Aim. Little is known about the physiological response during slideboard exercise (SE). The aim of the present study was to analyse the oxygen uptake ((V) over dotO(2)), the heart rate (HR) and the energy expenditure (EE) during a typical slideboard exercise session and investigate differences on these variables when performing the same choreography at two different cadences (130 e 145 beats per minute - bpm). Methods. The sample comprised 13 female university students (21,77 +/- 0,97 years), apparently healthy and physically active, with past training in SE and mastering the technical levels 1 and 2. The subjects performed randomly exercise sessions at 130bpm and 145 bpm. The ventilatory response was measured by an open air circuit system (COSMED K4b(2), Rome, Italy) and HR was measured by a portable monitor (Polar Wireless Double Electrode, Kempele,Finland). HR and (V) over dotO(2), during SE at 130 bpm, were 179.88 +/- 834 bpm and 37.95 +/- 3.71 mL/kg/min respectively. At 145 bpm SE mean values were 182.08 +/- 9.58 bpm and 39.67 +/- 3.82 mL/kg/min respectively. EE during 130bpm exercise was 10.60 +/- 1.69 kcal/min and at 145 bpm was 10.90 +/- 1.36 kcal/min. No differences were found between 130 and 145 bpm in none of the variables. We conclude that slideboard exercise cardio respiratory response does not seem affected by the rhythm of execution. Moreover the EE associated with this type of exercise is above the literature reports for other types of group aerobic exercises.