Previous research has suggested that gardening activity could be an effective form of regular exercise for improving physical and psychological health in later life. However, there is a lack of data regarding the exercise intensities of various gardening tasks across different types of gardening and different populations. The purpose of this study was to examine the exercise intensity of gardening activity for older adult allotment gardeners in Wales, United Kingdom following a similar procedure used in previous studies conducted in the United States and South Korea by Park and colleagues (2008a; 2011). Oxygen consumption (VO2) and energy expenditure for six gardening tasks were measured via indirect calorimetery using the portable Oxycon mobile device. From these measures, estimated metabolic equivalent units (METs) were calculated. Consistent with Park et al. (2008a; 2011) the six gardening tasks were classified as low to moderate-high intensity physical activities based on their metabolic values (1.9–5.7 METs).
Jemma L. Hawkins, Alexander Smith, Karianne Backx and Deborah A. Clayton
Kim Gammage, Alyson Crozier, Alison Ede, Christopher Hill, Sean Locke, Eric Martin, Desi McEwan, Kathleen Mellano, Eva Pila, Matthew Stork and Svenja Wolf
Exercise Outdoors by Ourselves or With Others? Exercising outdoors in the natural environment, or “green exercise,” has been associated with positive improvements in mental health outcomes, even more so than exercising in indoor, built environments or virtual, simulated natural environments. It has been
Gina M. Besenyi, Emi B. Hayashi and Richard W. Christiana
health whether people engage in it indoors or outdoors, a number of studies connect “green exercise” outdoors in nature with greater feelings of enjoyment, satisfaction, energy, vitality, restoration, and self-esteem. 12 , 34 Independent of levels of PA and social interaction, exposure to nature in and
Steven J. Petruzzello and Allyson G. Box
(outdoor) environments had positive impacts on mental health in college students. They further suggested that universities “… should strongly consider providing access to nature on their campuses” (p. 13). This is consistent with a review of “green” exercise (i.e., exercise outdoors or in nature), which
Shannon S. Block, Trevor R. Tooley, Matthew R. Nagy, Molly P. O’Sullivan, Leah E. Robinson, Natalie Colabianchi and Rebecca E. Hasson
Sports Exerc . 2016 ; 48 ( 6 ): 1197 – 222 . PubMed doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000000901 27182986 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000901 8. Duncan MJ , Clarke ND , Birch SL , Tallis J , Hankey J , Bryant E , Eyre EL . The effect of green exercise on blood pressure, heart rate and mood state in
Estela Farías-Torbidoni, Demir Barić and Sebastià Mas-Alòs
disease and life expectancy . Lancet . 2012 ; 380 ( 9838 ): 219 – 229 . doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61031-9 22818936 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61031-9 20. Barton J , Pretty J . What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A multi-study analysis . Environ Sci Tech
Emma Weston, Matthew Nagy, Tiwaloluwa A. Ajibewa, Molly O’Sullivan, Shannon Block and Rebecca E. Hasson
rest and during exercise in obese children and adults . J Obes . 2012 ; 2012 : 1 – 10 . PubMed ID: 22666555 doi:10.1155/2012/147385 10.1155/2012/147385 14. Duncan MJ , Clarke ND , Birch SL , et al . The effect of green exercise on blood pressure, heart rate and mood state in primary school
Yoke Leng Ng, Keith D. Hill, Pazit Levinger and Elissa Burton
. , & McBrearty , M. ( 2015 ). Exploring physical activity preferences across the lifespan . Leisure/Loisir, 39 ( 3–4 ), 323 – 344 . doi: 10.1080/14927713.2015.1116201 Gladwell , V.F. , Brown , D.K. , Wood , C. , Sandercock , G.R. , & Barton , J.L. ( 2013 ). The great outdoors: How a green
Kleverton Krinski, Daniel G. S. Machado, Luciana S. Lirani, Sergio G. DaSilva, Eduardo C. Costa, Sarah J. Hardcastle and Hassan M. Elsangedy
013e318213fefb Gladwell , V.F. , Brown , D.K. , Wood , C. , Sandercock , G.R. , & Barton , J.L. ( 2013 ). The great outdoors: How a green exercise environment can benefit all . Extreme Physiology & Medicine, 2 ( 3 ), 1 – 7 . doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3 Hampson , D.B. , St Clair Gibson
