Exercise responses to running and in-line skating at self-selected paces

Abstract

Exercise responses to running and in-line skating at self-selected paces. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 247-250, 1996. The purpose of this investigation was to compare physiological responses to in-line skating and running at preferred levels of exertion. Ten males and ten females performed 15 min of in-line skating or running on two separate days. Subjects were instructed to exercise at an intensity that represented an effective cardiovascular workout. Heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) were monitored continuously using a portable, telemetric, open-circuit spirometry system. Subjects maintained steady rate VO2 over minutes 11-15 of in-line skating and running at speeds (mean +/- SD) of 21.7 +/- 2.4 and 12.2 +/- 2.3 km.h-1, respectively. A significantly higher (P = 0.03) VO2 (mean +/- SEM, 44.0 +/- 1.7 ml.kg-1.min-1) was observed during running compared with in-line skating (42.0 +/- 2.0 ml.kg-1.min-1), but there were no differences in ventilation, HR, or rating of perceived exertion. Consistent with the results of previous investigations, we conclude that in-line skating is an appropriate form of exercise for improving cardiorespiratory fitness. Future studies should compare the cardiovascular training effects of in-line skating and running in individuals of varying levels of fitness and skating ability.