The effects of low and moderate intensity exercise on subjective experiences in a naturalistic health and fitness club setting.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of participation in low and moderate intensity exercise on subjective exercise experiences in a naturalistic health club setting. Thirty physically active members of a community health and fitness club participated in low and moderate intensity cycle ergometry for 20 minutes. Subjective exercise experiences were measured before, during and after exercise. Participants reported significant increases in Positive Well-being and Fatigue scores across time in the moderate but no change in the low exercise intensity condition. The results suggest that exercising for 20 minutes at moderate intensity in a health club environment provides some measure of psychological benefit for a general population, although exercise at the higher intensity could have negative implications by increasing feelings of fatigue during and after exercise.