Relação entre variáveis cardiorrespiratórias e a intensidade fisiológica de uma sessão de zumba

Abstract

Zumba is widely used as a recreational and aerobic physical activity. However, evidence regarding its physiological intensity in relation to parameters obtained from graded exercise tests (GXT) remains limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between cardiorespiratory variables obtained during a GXT and the physiological intensity of a Zumba session. Eight physically active men participated in the study (22.1 ± 2.8 years; 72.7 ± 7.8 kg; 178.1 ± 7.8 cm). Initially, participants performed a treadmill GXT to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), the velocity associated with VO₂max (vVO₂max), and ventilatory thresholds 1 and 2 (VT1 and VT2). After 72 hours, a Zumba session was performed with continuous heart rate (HR) monitoring. Mean HR (Zumba_avg) and peak HR (Zumba_peak) during the session were calculated. The mean HR during the Zumba session (136.9 ± 17.1 bpm) was lower than the HR corresponding to VT1 (162.9 ± 22.7 bpm), VT2 (176.8 ± 19.2 bpm), and the maximal HR obtained during the GXT (194.4 ± 12.3 bpm). A negative correlation was observed between Zumba_avg and vVO₂max (r = −0.73). In addition, Zumba_peak was negatively correlated with vVO₂max (r = −0.82) and with the velocity associated with VT2 (vVT2; r = −0.72). These results suggest that a Zumba session can be characterized as a low- to moderate-intensity exercise. Furthermore, individuals with higher cardiorespiratory fitness exhibit lower relative physiological stress during the session.