Whirling, as a form of low intensity exercise

Abstract

Background and objectives: Regular physical activity produces cardiovascular adaptations that increase exercise capacity, endurance and skeletal muscle strength. Habitual physical activity also prevents the development of coronary artery disease. Present study was aimed to identify whirling exercise as a form of low intensity exercise. Whirling means to move around quickly in a circle, clockwise or counter-clockwise. Material and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in selected subjects (n=200). Subjects were divided in to four groups based on the sex and age. Resting heart rate was recorded, on three days and the Mean was considered for the study. The low end of the “Target heart rate zone” was calculated by using Karvonen formula for every subject with their age and resting heart rate data. Blood pressure and Pulse rate were recorded before and after whirling exercise for six minutes. Then the Heart rate after whirling exercise was compared with low end of the Target heart rate zone, to check whether it was higher or lower than the low end of the ‘Target Heart Rate Zone’. Results and Discussion: In our study, 88% of the subjects in Group A, 92% of the subjects in Group B, 86% of the subjects in Group C and 90% of the subjects in Group D, have achieved the low end of the Target heart rate after six minutes of whirling exercise. Mean and standard deviation values for (i) low end of the Target heart rate zone and (ii) Heart rate after whirling exercise were compared, in all the four groups. Statistical significance was obtained by using student t test. Conclusion: Whirling can be considered as a form of a low intensity exercise, as it raises the resting heart rate to low end of target heart rate, for all the four groups.