•  
  •  
 

IS A CUP ENOUGH? LEVELS OF ENERGY EXPENDITURE DURING SPEED STACKING

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Speed Stacking, introduced in the early 1980s, is a key component of U.S. physical education (PE) programs. It's known for enhancing motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time by up to 30%. Yet, there are doubts about its effectiveness in achieving recommended moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels (>3.0 METs for adults, >4.0 METs for youth) when compared to continuous (e.g., walking, running) and discrete (e.g., kicking, throwing, striking) skills. METHODS: Twenty young adults (average age: 20.4 ± 1.5 years, average BMI: 25.4 ± 3.5) volunteered for a study with four five-minute testing phases: baseline rest, Speed Stacking, Running, and Speed Stack and Run. They wore a portable metabolic computer (COSMED K5) and a heart rate monitor to measure METs. During the Running phase, participants completed a short run to a stacking table and back with brief intervals every 40 seconds. Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) on a 1-10 scale were recorded for analysis. RESULTS: The average METs for adults and children were 1.40 (±0.24) and 2.51 (±0.88) during the rest condition, 2.97 (±0.56) and 3.86 (±0.93) during the Speed Stacking, 2.95 (±0.32) and 4.55 (±1.34) during the Running condition and 3.47 (±0.57) and 5.02 (±1.32) during the Speed Stack and Run condition. Avg RPE: Rest = 2.45 (±1.64) and 1.8 (±1.3), Speed Stack = 2.65 (±1.62) and 2.48 (±1.43), Run = 3.0 (±1.64) and 2.59 (±1.85), Speed Stack & Run = 3.05 (±1.72) and 2.68 (±1.53). There was a main effect for sex (df = 1, 18, F = 472.103, p< .05 eta = 0.378) with post hoc t-tests indicating women demonstrated higher METs at each performance trial interval except the Speed Stack and Run conditions. CONCLUSION: Contrary to previous research on Speed Stacking's energy expenditure, this study failed to meet the minimum MVPA threshold in both genders and age groups, except during Running and Speed Stack combined conditions. This aligns with the well-established effectiveness of running for MVPA. The absence of gender-based differences underscores Speed Stacking's low-intensity nature. RPE scores remained low, suggesting it's suitable for a recovery day in PE classes. To achieve MVPA recommendations, Speed Stacking should be complemented with higher-intensity activities, particularly in children, warranting further investigation.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS