Good morning,
Can drumming ever count towards the US Physical Activity Guidelines if the intensity is in the 50-85% of Heart Rate Max range, measured by a fitness tracker watch?
Thanks for your time.
I don’t think so. The evidence suggests that while any increase in movement above sedentary levels reduces mortality risk and improves health, formal exercise provides a superior stimulus for driving specific physiological adaptations like increased VO2max, muscular strength, and bone mineral density.
The example of drumming is telling. While it does increase heart rate, an increase in that parameter can sometimes be decoupled from metabolic demand. Activities involving small muscle masses or high levels of sympathetic arousal can raise heart rate without providing the systemic stress necessary to improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Thermal stress in motorsports is another confounder.
To improve conditioning, the stimulus must be sufficient to challenge the stroke volume of the heart and the oxidative capacity of large muscle groups.
2 Likes
Thanks for the response, Jordan.
How about boxing and kickboxing workouts via an app like FitOn, if it’s moderate to vigorous intensity based on heart rate?
I can’t stand doing cardio, so I’m trying to find something that doesn’t “feel” like I’m doing cardio…
Thanks for time!
I think those would be more reasonable, though I do think it is telling that at the competitive level, combat sports athletes do lots of traditional conditioning work to improve fitness. Is there any type of cardio you think you’d be up for?
I work at 7am, and would prefer to workout before work. My apartment gym doesn’t open until 8am, so that’s why I’ve been doing workout videos in my living room. I’m currently doing one cardio workout to a workout video at home on Tuesday, then Friday and Sunday, I do Strength Training and cardio on a stair stepper at my actual gym when I have more time. I’m just trying to hit 150 moderate minutes per week with a mixture of moderate intensity and vigorous intensity. Cardio is just so boring and time intensive… I do have access to a treadmill, exercise bike, and elliptical after work, but would rather get my exercise over first thing in the morning. I also really only find exercise tolerable with caffeine, and I can only use that 3 days per week, without overlapping 2 days in a row, possibly leading to tolerance. Currently learning 5 musical instruments, so that’s much more exciting to me. I guess any thoughts you have on the situation would be helpful…
Thanks for all you do,