A Measurement of the Energy Cost of Resistance Training Activities in Young Men

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2012-05, Vol.44 (5S), p.557-557
• Main Authors: Vezina, Jesse W, Meckes, Nathanael, Der Ananian, Cheryl A, Campbell, Kathryn D, Ainsworth, Barbara E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0195-9131

To determine the energy cost of four modes of resistance training (push-ups, curl-ups, pull-ups, and lunges) in young men. Twelve well trained men (minimum three days per week of resistance training over the past year), aged 23.6 (SD=2.84) years were recruited to participate in the study. Each of the 12 men completed three trials of each of the four exercises, in a randomly assigned order, on one visit to the laboratory which lasted slightly longer than one hour (M=72 min, SD=5.9 min). Each activity was performed to the beat of a metronome set at 40 beats per minute. The mean VO sub(2) values obtained for the four resistance activities were as follows: push-ups (M=11.57 ml/kg/min, SD=1.99), curl-ups (M=10.99 ml/kg/min, SD=1.48), pull-ups (M=10.87 ml/kg/min, SD=2.51), and lunges (M=14.18 ml/kg/min, SD=1.78). The corresponding MET values (push-ups: 3.31, curl-ups: 3.14, pull-ups: 3.11, and lunges: 4.05 respectively) were all within the range of moderate intensity activity.