Home News ACSM News Releases

May 31, 2006
For Immediate Release

What is "Moderate Intensity" Physical Activity?
New Study Suggests Better to Show Than Tell

DENVER –-   A demonstration of "moderate intensity" physical activity works better than a written explanation, according to a study presented today at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in Denver.  Researchers offered evidence that women better understand "moderate intensity" when demonstrated, as compared to those who receive a definition and examples in writing (such as those that are typically described in the mass media.)  Information from the study can be helpful in communicating the level of activity necessary to gain health benefits. 

The current recommendation from ACSM and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls on healthy adults to accumulate 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on most, if not all, days of the week.   Examples of this type of activity include brisk walking, light jogging, mopping and walking with a purpose.

The research team found messages in the mass media, such as "'moderate intensity' is a pace at which you break a sweat, have a slight increase in your heart rate, but are still easily able to talk to someone," were not sufficient in helping women understand the intensity required to meet the ACSM/CDC recommendation. 

To test this, a small group of sedentary women were randomly assigned to two groups: information-only and information-plus.   Women in the information-only group were read and shown a brief description of the CDC/ACSM recommendation, along with examples of moderate-intensity activities.  The message was similar to those promoting moderate-intensity physical activity in the mass media.

Women in the information-plus group received the same message, and also performed a 10-minute moderate intensity walk on an indoor track with a researcher.   During the walk, each participant wore a heart rate monitoring belt, which transmitted her heart rate to a watch worn by the researcher. This allowed the researcher to inform the participant when her heart rate was at a moderate intensity level. Participants learned to either quicken or slow their pace in order to maintain a moderate-level pace.  For each participant in each group, researchers had determined in advice her moderate intensity heart rate.

Four weeks later, participants in both groups returned for a follow-up assessment, during which they were asked to demonstrate, without assistance, a moderate-intensity walking pace for 15 minutes.   During the walk, each participant wore a heart rate monitoring belt and watch with its face securely covered, and researchers recorded the number of minutes during which her walking was at a moderate intensity level.  By comparing the number of participants in each group who walked for at least 10 minutes at a moderate intensity pace, the researchers learned that significantly more women in the information-plus group were able to maintain a moderate intensity walking pace than women in the information-only group.  Ten minutes was chosen as the duration because the ACSM/CDC recommendations calls on adults to perform moderate intensity physical activity in sessions of at least 10 minutes each.

"Given that one fourth of U.S. women participate in no physical activities at all, it's so important they grasp the concept of 'moderate intensity'," said Kelly R. Rice, lead author of the study.   "Demonstrating a moderate-intensity walking pace shows a woman who has been chronically inactive that physical activity is achievable when performed at a pace she can do.  This study provides evidence that showing and telling works better than just telling women what they need to do to meet the ACSM/CDC recommendation."

-30-

The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine.

ACSM: Advancing health through science, education and medicine.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.   More than 20,000 international, national, and regional members are dedicated to promoting and integrating scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life.