Effects of Group Versus Individual Exercise on Perceived Effort and Physiological Responses During Steady-State Cycling
Location
Hopwood Auditorium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Presentation Type
Oral presentation
Entry Number
98
Start Date
4-16-2026 1:45 PM
End Date
4-16-2026 2:00 PM
School
School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Department
Exercise Physiology
Keywords
Group exercise, Individual exercise, Ratings of perceived exertion, Heart rate, Blood lactate, Cadence, Steady-state cycling, Physiological responses, NASA-TLX, Social facilitation.
Abstract
Exercise performed in group settings is commonly used to enhance motivation, enjoyment, and adherence. However, it is unclear whether social context alters perceived exertion and corresponding physiological responses during steady-state exercise. While prior research suggests group dynamics may influence psychological experience, limited research has examined whether differences in Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) align with measurable biometric variables such as heart rate and blood lactate. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether exercising in a group influences perceived effort compared to exercising individually, and whether differences in RPE are supported by changes in physiological responses. METHODS: Fifteen male and collegiate cross country runners (ages 18–25) from the University of Lynchburg participated in a randomized, within-subject crossover design. Each participant completed two 30-minute steady-state cycling sessions at conversational intensity: one individual condition and one group condition (≥48 hours apart). Heart rate was monitored continuously, while blood pressure pre-exercise, midpoint, and post-exercise and Blood Lactate measured pre-exercise and post-exercise. RPE was recorded at regular intervals throughout each session, and workload was assessed using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Performance variables including power output, cadence, and distance were also recorded. RESULTS: Preliminary analysis indicated similar average heart rate, lactate, and power output between conditions, suggesting participants maintained comparable physiological intensity. Cadence demonstrated minor but consistent differences between group and individual sessions, indicating subtle changes in pacing strategy. Additionally, differences were observed in RPE averages and NASA-TLX scores between conditions, suggesting that social environment influenced perceptual workload independent of major physiological changes. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that exercising in a group may alter perceptual responses without substantially changing physiological output during steady-state exercise. Understanding how social context affects perceived exertion may help improve training strategies, exercise adherence, and overall program design for both athletic and general populations.
Primary Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr.Sean Collins
Primary Faculty Mentor(s) Department
Exercise Physiology
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Effects of Group Versus Individual Exercise on Perceived Effort and Physiological Responses During Steady-State Cycling
Hopwood Auditorium
Exercise performed in group settings is commonly used to enhance motivation, enjoyment, and adherence. However, it is unclear whether social context alters perceived exertion and corresponding physiological responses during steady-state exercise. While prior research suggests group dynamics may influence psychological experience, limited research has examined whether differences in Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) align with measurable biometric variables such as heart rate and blood lactate. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether exercising in a group influences perceived effort compared to exercising individually, and whether differences in RPE are supported by changes in physiological responses. METHODS: Fifteen male and collegiate cross country runners (ages 18–25) from the University of Lynchburg participated in a randomized, within-subject crossover design. Each participant completed two 30-minute steady-state cycling sessions at conversational intensity: one individual condition and one group condition (≥48 hours apart). Heart rate was monitored continuously, while blood pressure pre-exercise, midpoint, and post-exercise and Blood Lactate measured pre-exercise and post-exercise. RPE was recorded at regular intervals throughout each session, and workload was assessed using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Performance variables including power output, cadence, and distance were also recorded. RESULTS: Preliminary analysis indicated similar average heart rate, lactate, and power output between conditions, suggesting participants maintained comparable physiological intensity. Cadence demonstrated minor but consistent differences between group and individual sessions, indicating subtle changes in pacing strategy. Additionally, differences were observed in RPE averages and NASA-TLX scores between conditions, suggesting that social environment influenced perceptual workload independent of major physiological changes. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that exercising in a group may alter perceptual responses without substantially changing physiological output during steady-state exercise. Understanding how social context affects perceived exertion may help improve training strategies, exercise adherence, and overall program design for both athletic and general populations.