Effects of Watching vs. Performing Walking and Stair-climbing Exercises on Physiological Parameters in Healthy Males

Introduction: Exercise is widely recognized for its various physiological impacts. Furthermore, it has been postulated that watching people engage in physical activities like sports might trigger physiological reactions that mimic actual participation in the activity. This study investigated the effect of watching aerobic exercise videos (walking and stair climbing) versus physically engaging in the exercises on cardiovascular indices, blood glucose, body temperature, pulmonary indices, urine creatinine, and electrolyte levels in healthy male participants at the University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.

Method: Twenty participants, aged 18-25, were randomly assigned to the video group (n=10) and the exercise group (n=10). The video group watched exercise videos of walking and stair climbing, respectively. The exercise group performed walking and stair climbing exercises, respectively. Before the commencement of the experiment, the participants were given a 15-minute rest, after which their blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, and blood glucose were measured. They were then given 600 mL of water and 15 g of glucose for hydration and energy. After 45 minutes, their cardiovascular indices, blood glucose, body temperature, pulmonary indices, and urine sample for assessment of urine electrolytes and creatinine levels were taken. After that, the video group watched a video of people engaged in walking exercise, while the exercise group walked for 15 minutes. After the first session, a 30-minute recuperation period was observed before the commencement of the second session (stair climbing). The same procedure was repeated in the second session. Blood pressure, pulse rate, blood glucose, and body temperature were measured immediately after the first session, 15 and 30 minutes after the first session, immediately after the second session, and 15, and 30 minutes after the second session. Pulmonary indices and urine samples were taken immediately after the first session, 30 minutes after the first session, immediately after the second session, and 30 minutes after the second session.

Results: The results showed a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and pulse rate; however, there was no significant difference in diastolic blood pressure and pulmonary indices in the exercise group compared to the video group. Additionally, the exercise group showed a significant decrease in blood glucose level and an increase in urine potassium level during the 30-minute recuperation period compared to the video group.

Discussion: Watching sports was postulated to elicit similar responses as though someone were performing the sport; however, the findings of this study showed that the participants who watched exercise videos exhibited no significant change in blood pressure and pulse rate when compared with those who performed the exercises. The inability of our study to uphold this claim might be due to the 15-minute exposure observed in the present study being short; perhaps a longer period of exposure could elicit such physiological responses. Another limitation of the present study is the relatively small sample size, which may have impacted the statistical power of the findings. Consequently, conducting comprehensive studies with a larger sample size is highly recommended.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of this study showed that watching exercise videos of walking and stair climbing did not elicit similar cardiovascular effects as actually performing walking and stair climbing exercises, but mimicked the same effects on blood glucose, urine sodium, and chloride levels in healthy male participants. Further research is recommended in this line of study.