Calculation of caloric expenditure for elastic resistance training in upper and lower body exercise

Abstract

Caloric expenditure of hundreds of activities, including conditioning exercises, occupational activities such as masonry work, self-care activities such as dressing, and lawn care activities such as mowing, have been previously reported (Ainsworth et al., 2000). However, there is little research that has been done in this specific area of MET calculation in regards to elastic resistance training. Elastic resistance training is a type of training in which one uses an elastic band to create tension during resistance/strength exercise. While there are a variety of ways to evaluate exercise intensity, METs (Metabolic Equivalence of Tasks) were used to evaluate the energy cost for elastic resistance exercises. The purpose of this study was to determine the METs and caloric expenditure per minute associated with elastic resistance exercise. 15 undergraduate and graduate exercise science students (6 male; 9 female) ages 18-25 (21.60 plus/minus 1.99 years), completed 10 repetitions of 10 upper and lower body exercises using two different strengths of Thera-bands (blue; black). METs and caloric expenditure were calculated from participants' relative oxygen consumption. Data were analyzed and a significant difference (p<0.01) was found between upper and lower body exercise as well as between the blue and black elastic bands. Lower body exercises performed by the black Theraband yielded significantly (p<0.01) higher energy costs (5.13kcal plus/minus 1.54; 3.85 MET plus/minus 0.5) compared to pre-exercise (2.06kcal plus/minus 0.67; 1.57MET plus/minus .046), black upper body (4.06kcal plus/minus 1.17; 3.05 MET plus/minus 0.44), blue upper body (3.94kcal plus/minus 1.24; 2.95 MET plus/minus 0.43) and blue lower body (4.69kcal plus/minus 1.48; 3.51 MET plus/minus 0.49) trials. In conclusion, individuals burned more calories with greater resistance and during lower body exercise. The exercise program fit ACSM's MET guidelines for a moderate-intensity exercise.