Clinical Study: Cardio workout with less effort?

We asked academic Ph.D. exercise scientists to examine the cardio efficacy of the Engen in a university setting. The study measured: (1) the heart rate subjects attained on the Engen and (2) the level of exertion subjects experienced while exercising on the Engen, the treadmill, and the elliptical.

THE INVESTIGATORS

Dr. Edward Jo is Director of the Cal Poly Human Performance Research Lab.

Dr. Brett Dolezal is Associate Director of the Exercise Physiology Research Lab at UCLA’s School of Medicine.

the study

The study was conducted at the Cal Poly Human Performance Research Lab. The investigators recruited 12 subjects (ages 19 to 22) who engage in formal endurance training at least 3 times a week.

For the study, these young athletes first used the Engen to see if they could reach 75-80% of their max heart rate (HR). Then they exercised on the Engen, the treadmill, and the elliptical at 60-65% of max HR and 75-80% of max HR. The subjects were ask to rate their level of exertion on each machine while in the two HR zones. 

the results

All 12 subjects achieved 75%+ of max HR on the Engen, demonstrating that the Engen can deliver high intensity cardio to young endurance athletes.

11 of the 12 subjects, while exercising at 60-65% of max HR, reported less effort on the Engen compared to the treadmill and elliptical. 

At 75-80% of max HR, 6 of the 12 subjects reported less effort on the Engen compared to the treadmill and elliptical. (The other 6 subjects reported less or equal effort on the Engen compared to either the treadmill or the elliptical.)

Our Conclusions

The pilot study demonstrates that the Engen delivers effective cardio conditioning. If young endurance athletes can get a cardio workout on the Engen, so can the rest of us.

The study also shows that moderate to high intensity cardio can be achieved on the Engen with less effort. Among other things, this means older adults can more easily maintain their cardio health while enjoying all the benefits of total body movement - and none of the pain or discomfort of conventional exercise.

More enjoyable exercise means we'll exercise more - building and maintaining a solid foundation for long term health and fitness.

Additional studies

Engen Fitness looks forward to sponsoring additional studies in the areas of functional strength and balance, core muscle activation, and dynamic stretching.