Health Education Research, Vol. 14, No. 6, 803-815,
December 1999
© 1999 Oxford University Press
The efficacy of accumulated short bouts versus single daily bouts of brisk walking in improving aerobic fitness and blood lipid profiles
Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Canterbury Christ Church University College, Canterbury CT1 1QU,
1 Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, Margate CT9 4AN, and
2 Haemophilia Centre and
3 Department of Cardiology, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury CT1 3NG, UK
Fifty-six subjects (19 men and 37 woman) aged between 40 and 66 completed the study. They were allocated into three walking groups and a control group (C). The three walking groups performed the same total amount of walking for 18 weeks, but completed it in bouts of differing durations and frequencies. These were Long Walkers (LW; 20–40 min/bout), Intermediate Walkers (IW; 10–15 min/bout) and Short Walkers (SW; 5–10 min/bout); with the IW and SW performing more than one bout of walking a day. Following the 18 week walking programme, compared to the C group all walking groups showed similar improvements in fitness as determined by a reduction in blood lactate during a graded treadmill walking test (LW 1.0 mmol/l; IW 0.8 mmol/l; SW 1.2 mmol/l; C 0.2 mmol/l; P = 0.003) and reduction in final heart rate (LW 8 beats/min; IW 6 beats/min; SW 10 beats/min; C 0 beats/min; P = 0.056). Also compared to the C group, the LW and IW groups recorded statistically significant decreases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LW 0.29 mmol/l; IW 0.41 mmol/l; P = 0.024), whereas the control group showed a mean increase of 0.22 mmol/l. The LW and IW groups also showed significant reductions in apolipoprotein (apo) A-II (LW 0.05 g/l; IW 0.02 g/l; SW 0.01 g/l; C 0.00 g/l; P = 0.012) with the LW recording a statistically significant increase in the ratio of apo A-I/A-II (LW, 0.19, P = 0.044). In conclusion, some health benefits were achieved from all walking programmes. However, whilst the changes in aerobic fitness were similar, the effects upon blood lipid profiles were not. The findings from this study suggest that the LW regimen was most effective in benefiting blood lipid profile, followed by the IW regimen, with the SW being least potent. Nevertheless, for the sedentary/low-active members of society, any improvement in health may be considered as important. Therefore accumulated bouts of moderate intensity exercise, which according to theories of exercise behaviour may be more easily incorporated into an individual's lifestyle than single prolonged bouts, may be advocated for health promotion but may not be as effective as the traditionally prescribed 20–40 min bouts.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S. Kodama, S. Tanaka, K. Saito, M. Shu, Y. Sone, F. Onitake, E. Suzuki, H. Shimano, S. Yamamoto, K. Kondo, et al. Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training on Serum Levels of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: A Meta-analysis Arch Intern Med, May 28, 2007; 167(10): 999 - 1008. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T.-M. Asikainen, J. H Suni, M. E Pasanen, P. Oja, M. B Rinne, S. I Miilunpalo, C.-H. A Nygard, and I. M Vuori Effect of Brisk Walking in 1 or 2 Daily Bouts and Moderate Resistance Training on Lower-Extremity Muscle Strength, Balance, and Walking Performance in Women Who Recently Went Through Menopause: A Randomized, Controlled Trial Physical Therapy, July 1, 2006; 86(7): 912 - 923. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C A G Boreham, R A Kennedy, M H Murphy, M Tully, W F M Wallace, and I Young Training effects of short bouts of stair climbing on cardiorespiratory fitness, blood lipids, and homocysteine in sedentary young women Br. J. Sports Med., September 1, 2005; 39(9): 590 - 593. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. M. Fahlman, D. Boardley, C. P. Lambert, and M. G. Flynn Effects of Endurance Training and Resistance Training on Plasma Lipoprotein Profiles in Elderly Women J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., February 1, 2002; 57(2): B54 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|