The Effects of a Sudden or Gradual Withdrawal from a Chronic Exercise Pattern on Anxiety Levels of Well Conditioned Athletes

Abstract

Due to increasing numbers of people developing high levels of cardiovascular (CV) fitness there are correspondingly more leaving these elevated states for varied reasons. The present investigation explored the possible need for a taper from a chronic exercise program. Anxiety was used as a possible indication of behavioral adaptations to a decreasing level of cardiovascular and muscle endurance levels. Eighty-two conditioned subjects and thirty unconditioned subjects were pre-tested for cardiovascular levels and A-State levels of anxiety to three groups each detraining at different rates and styles. All 112 subjects were post-tested for CV and A-State levels after a two week interval. The unconditioned group showed low pre and post levels of CV fitness and low pre-levels of A-State anxiety. This low level of A-State took a large upward directional shift on A-State post-tests (37.6 to 40.8). The conditioned groups, who were detrained, dropped in levels of CV condition as per their level of modification of detraining. Their levels of A-State anxiety dropped slightly over the two week detraining interval. Significance was found at the .05 level between and among subjects for the changes in CV levels. No significance was found for the changes in A-State anxiety levels. Some directional trends could be seen as well as a possible buffering effect on A-State levels from elevated levels of CV fitness.