Fitness tracking via the adoption of wrist or chest worn activity monitors has grown in popularity, as the feedback of data is seen to further engage and empower its users, whilst encouraging self-monitoring of exercise intensity. The MZ-3 is a chest-based activity belt, that streams live effort data to a display during an exercise session.
Aim: This research set out to identify whether using the MYZONE MZ-3 activity belt influenced effort levels and effort perception, during both high and low intensity exercise.
Method: Ten members (mean age 43.6 ± 12.7 years), seven female, three males, of a MYZONE integrated gym in East Sussex participated in this study, using a repeated measures design. Prior to testing, body composition was recorded. Testing protocol involved completing two high intensity (HIIT) sessions and two low intensity (LISS) sessions. One with the live MYZONE display visible, and one without. A wellbeing scale was completed before each session, then a reflective RPE score was completed after each session. MYZONE effort data was recorded from the MZ-3.
Results: Significant main effects were identified for all MYZONE effort measures between HIIT and LISS conditions (Effort: F(1,9) = 181.321, p < 0.01, Calories: F(1,9) = 24.519, p < 0.01, Heart Rate: F(1,9) = 192.665, p < 0.01, MEPs: F(1,9) = 117.397, p < 0.01). No significant main effects were identified for monitoring within HIIT or LISS for all MYZONE effort measures. No significant correlations were identified between all MYZONE effort measures and SRPE scores. No significant differences were identified in wellbeing scores, between HIIT and LISS conditions.
Conclusions: The results obtained from this research suggest that the visibility of the MYZONE system had no impact on effort levels displayed. It may be argued that this is due to participants being familiar with the MYZONE system and MZ-3 belt, rather than being new users. The absence of correlations between effort measures and SRPE, suggests potential reductions in validity due to participant inexperience and misunderstanding with SRPE, as the results contradict a mass quantity of literature. Further research should be conducted using a larger sample, of varying ages, and experience levels with MYZONE. An SRPE familiarisation procedure is suggested to ensure valid SRPE responses.
Key words: MYZONE, MZ-3, HIIT, LISS, RPE, SRPE, Training Load, % maxHR