Characterization of exercise intensities and relationship between heart rate recovery and cardiorespiratory fitness with physiological and perceptual responses to a forró ballroom dance session

Abstract

Objective: To describe exercise intensities (heart rate and rating of perceived exertion) over a ballroom dance session (i.e., forró) and to relate to parasympathetic reactivation (e.g., heart rate recovery) and cardiorespiratory fitness (e.g., maximum aerobic speed) in women.

Method: Observational study, involving 17 healthy women aged 18 to 24 years. On the first visit was held a 40-minute Forró session (nine songs; xote and baião variations; heart rate monitoring and rating of perceived exertion). With intervals of 24-48 hours, the participants perform a maximal incremental test to determine treadmill maximum aerobic speed.

Results: The intensity of a forró session ranged from moderate to vigorous with clear differentiation between “xote” (slow pace, moderate intensity) and “baião” (fast pace, vigorous intensity) intensities when monitored by percentage of maximal heart rate and a linear increase when monitored by rating of perceived exertion. The maximum aerobic speed was inversely correlated (moderate/high correlation) to the responses of: i) heart rate in five songs; ii) percentage of maximal heart rate in three songs; iii) rating of perceived exertion in one song. There was no association between parasympathetic reactivation and physiological/perceptual responses to the forró session.

Conclusion: The intensity of a forró session ranges from moderate to vigorous, with better characterization of intensity in different styles (xote and baião) by percentage of maximal heart rate compared to rating of perceived exertion. Forró can be used to promote health, as it promotes enough stimulus.