Effect of Continuous Versus Interval Aerobic Exercise on Serum Serotonin and Rating of Perceived Exertion in Female Athletes

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of continuous aerobic activity in comparison with interval aerobic activity on serum serotonin and to rate the perceived exertion (RPF) according to Borg scale. Ten athletic girl(22.9±2.3 years, weight 53.8±2.5 kg, body mass index 20.6±1.0 kg⁄m2, fat percent 20.8±3.7and VO2max 41.7±1.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) selected to attend in studying. Blood samples were given before and 10 minutes after the end of the test include of 10 minutes warming conducted interval or continuous aerobic activity on treadmill for 40 minutes. Statistical analysis of data by using variance analysis of repetitive measurement showed that there is significant difference between different stages of serum Serotonin sampling (P=0/05). LSD post hoc test for couples comparison showed that interval aerobic activity caused significant increase in serum serotonin (P=0/028) but there wasn’t significant difference in serum serotonin amount before or after continuous aerobic activity test (P>0/05). Using of one way ANOVA showed that, in variation width of serum serotonin, there wasn’t significant difference between both aerobic activity types (P 0/05). On the other hand results of paired sample t test showed that rate of perceived pressure in interval aerobic activity was significantly more than continuous aerobic activity (P=0/01). Thus it seems that central fatigue level in interval aerobic activity is more than continuous aerobic activity because the amount of serum serotonin increase in interval activity is more than that of continuous activity, and rate of perceived pressure is more in interval activity.