Physical and Emotional Benefits of Different Exercise Environments Designed for Treadmill Running
1
Centre for Sports Engineering Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK
2
Academy of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK
3
Institute of Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14(7), 752; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14070752
Received: 24 May 2017 / Revised: 29 June 2017 / Accepted: 6 July 2017 / Published: 11 July 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evidence-Based Nature Therapy: Advances in Physiological Evaluation)
(1) Background: Green physical activity promotes physical health and mental wellbeing and interesting questions concern effects of this information on designing indoor exercise environments. This study examined the physical and emotional effects of different nature-based environments designed for indoor treadmill running; (2) Methods: In a counterbalanced experimental design, 30 participants performed three, twenty-minute treadmill runs at a self-selected pace while viewing either a static nature image, a dynamic nature image or self-selected entertainment. Distance ran, heart rate (HR) and five pre-and post-exercise emotional states were measured; (3) Results: Participants ran farther, and with higher HRs, with self-selected entertainment compared to the two nature-based environment designs. Participants attained lowered anger, dejection, anxiety and increased excitement post exercise in all of the designed environments. Happiness increased during the two nature-based environment designs compared with self-selected entertainment; (4) Conclusions: Self-selected entertainment encouraged greater physical performances whereas running in nature-based exercise environments elicited greater happiness immediately after running.
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Keywords:
green physical activity; environmental design; happiness; ecological dynamics; indoor exercise environments
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MDPI and ACS Style
Yeh, H.-P.; Stone, J.A.; Churchill, S.M.; Brymer, E.; Davids, K. Physical and Emotional Benefits of Different Exercise Environments Designed for Treadmill Running. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 752.
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