Effect of a novel 90-second “Gear” exercise programme on markers of inflammation and cardiorespiratory fitness measurements in person at risk of cardiovascular disease

ABSTRACT

The study compared the effect of the novel “Gear” exercise programmes on inflammatory markers and cardiorespiratory fitness measurements. The participants mean age was 38 ± 5.74 years, with a mean body mass of 83 ± 16.93kg. Participants were randomly assigned to either the “Gear” exercise programme repeated at different times during the day (GEP-DT): cycled for 90 seconds, repeated three times per day, three days per week; the “Gear” exercise programme repeated at one point in time (GEP-OT): cycled for 90 seconds followed by four minutes and 30 seconds rest, repeated three times at one point in time, three days per week; moderate-intensity continuous exercise group (MICE): cycled for 30 minutes at 55–69% of HR_max or the control group (CTRL): did not exercise. The GEP-DT demonstrated a moderate increase in load at ventilation threshold (VT-L) (MD = 8.18 ± 12.30, % Δ = 14.53, d = 0.77, d (95% CI): (−0.17, 1.64)). The GEP-OT group demonstrated a large effect size for VT-L (MD = 11.79 ± 18.77, % Δ = 18.86, d = 0.81, d (95% CI): (−0.02, 1.63)). The GEP-DT and GEP-OT raised the VT-L, which prevented premature fatigue and improved the efficiency of the cardiorespiratory system.

KEYWORDS:

• Health promotion
• exercise physiology
• exercise prescription
• ventilatory threshold
• peak oxygen consumption
• immunology

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the time and effort of all participants who participated in the study. The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr Lichaba for medically screening participants for the study. The authors would like to express their gratitude to Sister Rennusha Jowahir, Sister Brits and the team from AMPATH laboratories for their professional services during pre- and post-testing of inflammatory markers. The authors’ thanks are extended to Technogym, Tom de Heer and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), South Africa, through the Department of Higher Education and Training Research Development for funding the research study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is based on the research supported in part by the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), South Africa, through the Department of Higher Education and Training Research Development Grant.