RESEARCH
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
AND GROUP EX
Unobtrusive technology is enabling us to more
accurately gauge the physical effects of group
exercise classes.
The 30-second article
• Emerging technologies have improved
the ability to more accurately gauge
energy expenditure
• For this study, 30 individuals
participated in four different Les Mills
pre-choreographed group exercise
classes
• BODYATTACK™ and
BODYCOMBAT™ classes produced
the highest mean values for heart
rate, step count, METS (energy cost),
total energy expenditure and RPE
• Participating in a combination of these
classes can enable individuals to
meet ACSM’s minimum daily activity
guidelines.
64 | NETWORK WINTER 2014
Research paper: SenseWear Armbands
Differentiate Contribution of Select
Group Exercise Programs to Daily
Activity Requirements
Research team: Aimee L Harvey, Mark
R McKean PhD, Brendan J Burkett PhD
Published: Journal of Fitness Research,
Issue 3.1, 2014
Read more: fitnessresearch.edu.au/
journal-view/sensewear-armbandsdifferentiate-contribution-of-83
Introduction: Fitness centres provide an
opportunity for increased activity through
group exercise, with 81 per cent of fitness
businesses within Australia offering group
exercise classes. Les Mills International
is the world’s largest provider of prechoreographed group exercise classes
and delivers more than three million
workouts weekly in 14,000 fitness facilities
across 80 countries. However, there is little
empirical evidence of the contribution of
group exercise programs towards daily
physical activity.
Emerging technologies such as the
BodyMedia SenseWear MF-SW Armband
(SWA), which measures physical activity
and movement data from a tri-axial
accelerometer along with physiological
sensors (skin temperature and galvanic
skin response) have improved sensitivity
for detecting subtle changes in energy
expenditure, particularly for complex
movements. The small, relatively unobtrusive
size may provide a more realistic measure of
group exercise class activity.
This study used SenseWear Armbands
to differentiate and quantify physical
activity in different group exercise classes
towards ACSM (American College of
Sports Medicine) guidelines on daily
activity. This new knowledge will be
beneficial to public health professionals,
fitness professionals and allied health
professionals who recommend group
exercise programs. It will also allow
group exercise participants to specifically
choose a class related to their fitness
goals and daily activity requirements.
Methods: Using a crossover design,
13 males and 17 females completed four
group exercise classes; BODYPUMP™
(release #82), BODYCOMBAT™ (release
#52), BODYBALANCE™ (release #57)
and BODYATTACK™ (release #77) in
a randomised order over seven days.
Participants were experienced in, or
instructors for, Les Mills International group
exercise programs, and had no existing
medical conditions or injuries. All sessions
were at similar times of day with a minimum
of 24 hours rest between each class in
the same air-conditioned group exercise
studio. Participants followed similar dietary
patterns before participating in each class.
Instructors were Les Mills International
certified and instructed classes as per
the defined choreography. Participants
wore a Polar RS400 heart rate monitor