Exercise in Warm Weather vs. Exercise in Cold Weather Comparison

The importance of exercise in a person's life cannot be overstated. One must make sure to incorporate physical activity into their routines in order to live a productive lifestyle and function at their best. However, one should make sure to pay attention to the current weather conditions before beginning any activities because the weather has a significant impact on many people's health during the exercise routines.

This study aims to briefly describe the differences and health advantages of engaging in physical activity in both warm and cold climates. Additionally, it will attempt to describe the ideal time of day for exercising. History of physical exercises

The history of exercises can be traced back to the ancient cultures. It has been known as one of the best ways to maintain one's health. One of the proponents of physical exercises is Hippocrates. His contribution to the concept of exercising can be traced back to 460 and 370 BC (Berryman, 1992). This school of thought was also advanced by Plato and Aristotle. Other proponents who also perpetuated this concept included Galen between 129 and 200 AD (Berryman, 1992). Galen was of the in order to have a healthier body that could effectively eliminate body waste and an increased metabolic rate, one needed to undertake physical exercises. Some of the other benefits that Galen stated about physical exercises included better respiration, improved skin and muscle tone and finally increased strength.

Galen’s philosophy about physical exercises was emphasized by Avicenna between 980 and 1037 A.D (Berryman, 1995). Avicenna was a doctor and the author of the paper, The Canon of Medicine. His idea about physical exercises was that it improved a person's physical growth and was an important element that everyone should incorporate into their lifestyles (Berryman, 1995). He noted that with as much as exercises were a means to keep healthy, they should be done with moderation and in the ideal weather condition or else they could be detrimental to one’s health.

The first scholarly text that was written was the Book of Bodily Exercise (Mendez, 1960) between 1500 and 1561 A.D (Berryman, 1996). It explained some of the advantages of undertaking physical exercises and gave a breakdown of the manner with which exercises are to be done (Berryman, 1996). It gave the ramifications of exercises and the most appropriate periods of doing exercises. Over the years a number of books, journals and articles have been written concerning exercises. It has been noted that the best precautionary measures of dealing with some diseases is undertaking physical exercises in warm conditions.

From the 19th century, an emphasis has been laid on physical education, and personal health so more research in the discipline was undertaken. Physical exercises begun draw the attention of many academicians and better forms of doing exercises have been formulated depending on the individual desires of the society. It has been noted that the weather variations strongly affect physical exercises. Extreme cold or hot conditions make it rather difficult to undertake any physical activities. In order to adequately perform any exercises, the weather needs to be moderate for optimum performance (Peterson, 1997).

Research questions

The following questions will influence the underlying theory being investigated

i. Is exercising in cold and warm weather different?

ii. What is the importance of training in cold weather?

iii. What is the importance of exercising in warm weather?

Research design

This research study seeks to compare how exercises are conducted in the warm and cold weather conditions. The hypothesis that is drawn is that extreme weather conditions usually affect physical exercises.

The research seeks to conduct a hybrid model of both qualitative and quantitative research methods (Easterby-Smith et al., 2012). The research used primary methods of data collection. The research used an intervention trial which undertook a case study that began in March 2017 in the Orono, Maine in a local apartment complex right next University of Maine. The apartment complex is known as Stillwater Village Apartment. The research will continue for about a month in order to give ample time for data collection and examination.

The survey questions for this study are:

Do you prefer exercise in warm or cold weather? Answers will be between warm, cold, moderated temperature and no preference.

Do you think there is a difference in exercise in different temperature? This will be a close ended question, so the answers will be either yes or no.

The subjects that formed part of the research were drawn from the residents at the apartment complex. There were survey questions put in their mailbox to ask the willing residents to be part of the research by answering the survey questions. Out of the 340 survey , 250 of them passed while 90 of them failed. Out of the 210 participants who passed the interview, only 165 came to the baseline assessment the remaining 35 were excluded due to a number of reasons. 20 of them stated that they were not interested in participating, 10 did not come for the assessment and 5 of them had miscellaneous reasons. Out of the 165 participants who came for them baseline assessment, 25 refused to sign the consent form and were subsequently excluded from the study. The final figure that was accessed was 190 participants. Out of the 150 participants that were evaluated, only 100 were randomized whereas the remaining 40 were excluded either due to ineligibility or deciding to drop out of the exercise. As for control group, there was 50 participants.

The research took various group samples to investigate the theory that had been put across. In order to conduct a comparative analysis, the research also used a control sample. The primary sample was composed of residents who undertook various exercises either due to their affiliation to sports and personal reasons. The control test was composed of residents who have never undertaken any exercises before. A questionnaire was administered with the aim of investigating the effects of weather on physical exercises.

A questionnaire was filled with the aim of investigating the number of residents who enjoyed or who would enjoy exercising in either the summer or the winter. The types of exercises that one could undertake during these various weather conditions were also investigated. The intensity of the exercises and finally the frequency of conducting these exercises were also highlighted. The questionnaire also highlighted whether there was a difference in working out in the cold weather as opposed to the warm weather.

The results of the study were that the mean age of the subjects was 25 years with a variation of plus or minus 2 years. Most of the respondents, approximately 40%, were men. 55% of the respondents were in university of Maine. In the control test, there was gender parity with almost an even number with regards to gender. The minimum amount of time one would conduct exercises in the summer was roughly three times with a median of once per week. 67% of the respondents preferred undertaking physical exercises in the summer when compared to the winter. Almost 80% of the participants stated that they would rather undertake physical exercises in moderate weather conditions. 20% of the respondents felt that exercises in the winter were healthy since it ensured that the body was active and it also kept the body warm. 70% of the control subjects felt that there was no significant difference in working out during the cold weather as opposed to the warm weather whereas 15% of the primary sample felt that there was a major difference.

The method for displaying the data in the research was the use of a table. The table contained values that highlighted the median; mean and the range that was analyzed in both the primary test and the control test. The findings indicated that an increase or decrease in temperature was directly proportional to the orientation and attention. The table also highlighted that the females had lower motivations to undertake physical exercises when compared to their male counterparts.

Potential risks

Physical exercises if not conducted with moderation usually lead to adverse effects on the body of an individual. Extreme weather conditions also affect the health of a person who is conducting exercises (McTavish, 2004). Some of the ramifications usually include high medical expenses in treating some of the ailments concerned with exposure to extreme weather conditions. Some people usually use drugs to induce them to supersede their performance in exercises. These performance enhancers are usually harmful to a person's health and some are banned substances which might land someone in trouble with law enforcers (McTavish, 2004). In order to avert these potential risks, one should undertake to do exercises with moderation. Self-discipline should be inculcated in an individual and this will not cause the person to seek shorter means in order to enhance their performances but should strive to build up their energy gradually through hard work (McTavish, 2004).

Potential benefits

Exercises are generally good for the physical and sometimes the emotional health of a person. It helps people unwind from the day to day stressful scenarios and one is able to take off that extra steam doing an activity they like. In light of recent lifestyle diseases, health practitioners are advising the general public to invest time in conducting physical exercises. Human beings are warm-blooded mammals, the ideal temperatures that are suitable for most physical activities. As seen from the findings of the research, most people would rather undertake exercises in the warm conditions than in cold weather.

Nonetheless, there are instances where the cold weather is ideal. In cardiovascular exercises, the cold weather is usually appropriate for jogging. This does not expressly mean that one should go running in the winter, it might lead to health complications such as pneumonia. Exercises are usually a means of keeping people busy (Davis, 2005). The young people are advised to take it up as a past time in order to avoid bad influence or engaging in other vices. On a balance of probabilities, physical exercises carry more weight in terms of benefits both on the social aspect and the physical one. It impacts positively in an individual's life and in the society as a whole.

Data Collection and Analysis

Sex

# of total participants

Prefer warm weather

Prefer cold weather

Prefer moderated temperature

Male

40

28

6

8

Female

60

39

14

5

Total

100

67

20

13

Age

# of total participants

Prefer warm temperature

Prefer cold temperature

Prefer moderated temperature

Under 12

2

2

0

0

13-25

55

37

11

7

26-45

23

4

16

3

46-65

20

7

11

2

Total

100

50

38

12

Descriptive statistics

Descriptive statistics

Prefer warm temperature

Prefer cold temperature

Prefer moderated temperature

Mean

12.50

9.50

3.00

Standard Error

8.23

3.38

1.47

Median

5.50

11.00

2.50

Standard Deviation

16.46

6.76

2.94

Sample Variance

271.00

45.67

8.67

Kurtosis

3.68

2.39

1.50

Skewness

1.91

-1.24

0.94

Range

35

16

7

Minimum

2

0

0

Maximum

37

16

7

Sum

50

38

12

Count

4

4

4

From the descriptive statistics table above, it can be seen on average, at least 12 participants said that they would prefer exercising in warm weather with a standard deviation of 16.46 (Mean = 12.50, SE = 8.23). Similarly, those that preferred exercising in cold temperatures had a mean value of at least 9 and a standard deviation of 6.76 (Mean = 9.5, SE = 3.38).

Lastly, the individuals that preferred exercising in moderated temperatures had a mean of 3 and standard deviation of 2.94 (Mean = 3, SE = 1.47).

Research question one: Is exercising in cold and warm weather different?

In order to answer this research question, the data collected from the respondents was divided into two categories, for instance, those that prefer exercising in the cold weather as well as those that prefer exercising in the warm weather. Since these are only two categories, the most appropriate tool for investigating the possible differences is the independent T- statistic. This statistic compares the data for the two variables, estimates their mean and then produces tests on this mean for differences. The differences in the means were carried out at a 95% level as summarized in the table below.

Statistic

Prefer warm temperature

Prefer cold temperature

Mean

12.5

9.5

Variance

271

45.67

Observations

4

4

Pearson Correlation

0.22

Hypothesized Mean Difference

0

df

3

t Stat

0.37

P(T