Role of Self-Reported Individual Differences in Preference for and Tolerance of Exercise Intensity in Fitness Testing Performance

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research 2014-09, Vol.28 (9), p.2443-2451
• Main Authors: Hall, Eric E, Petruzzello, Steven J, Ekkekakis, Panteleimon, Miller, Paul C, Bixby, Walter R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Body Composition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise - psychology; Exercise Test; Exercise Tolerance - physiology; Female; Human performance; Humans; Individuality; Male; Performance evaluation; Physical Exertion - physiology; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - psychology; Preferences; Self Report; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000420

ABSTRACTHall, EE, Petruzzello, SJ, Ekkekakis, P, Miller, PC, and Bixby, WR. Role of self-reported individual differences in preference for and tolerance of exercise intensity in fitness testing performance. J Strength Cond Res 28(9)2443–2451, 2014—Performance in fitness tests could depend on factors beyond the bioenergetic and skeletomuscular systems, such as individual differences in preference for and tolerance of different levels of exercise-induced somatosensory stimulation. Although such individual-difference variables could play a role in exercise testing and prescription, they have been understudied. The purpose of these studies was to examine the relationships of self-reported preference for and tolerance of exercise intensity with performance in fitness tests. Participants in study I were 516 men and women volunteers from a campus community, and participants in study II were 42 men recruit firefighters undergoing a 6-week training program. Both the Preference and Tolerance scores exhibited significant relationships with performance in several fitness tests and with body composition and physical activity participation. Preference and Tolerance did not change after the training program in study II, despite improvements in objective and perceived fitness, supporting their conceptualization as dispositional traits. Preference and Tolerance scores could be useful not only in ameliorating the current understanding of the determinants of physical performance, but also in personalizing exercise prescriptions and, thus, delivering exercise experiences that are more pleasant, tolerable, and sustainable.