Acute metabolic response to the aerobic component of low impact aerobic dance with and without wrist weights

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the acute physiologic responses to the aerobic component of low impact aerobic dance, with and without the inclusion of wrist weights. Twelve female volunteers with an aerobic dance exercise background were recruited from Ball State University. The subjects were classified as highly fit individuals based on exercise history. Following an explanation of the project and preliminary physiologic screening, each subject performed three exercise trials. The first trial was a maximum graded exercise test for the purpose of determining maximal heart rate and oxygen uptake. Following the maximal test each subject performed two identical fifteen minute low impact aerobic dance trials to a choreographed videotape. The low impact aerobic dance videotape was choreographed to include three five-minute segments, providing for a gradual increase in the exercise period. To analyze for differences in the physiologic responses to low impact aerobic dance with and without wrist weights, one trial was performed with each subject wearing one pound wrist weights, while the other served as a no wrist weight comparison trial. Group means and standard deviations were calculated for oxygen uptake and energy expenditure responses at each music tempo. Differences between the two trials for these parameters were determined with a one-way ANOVA for repeated measures. For both trials, the alpha level was set at p