Heart rate response and energy cost of standup paddleboarding

Abstract

Standup Paddleboarding (SUP) began in Hawaii as a way to view island scenery and as a way for photographers to get better picture angles of st11fers. The purpose of this study was to determine the heart rate (HR) response and energy expenditure of SUP. Sixteen recreational paddleboarders completed a total of three trials at Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) levels of II, 13, and 15. It was found that HR was between 67% and 89% of age-predicted maximal HR and energy expenditure was between 9.00 and 13.9 kcal per minute, depending on the RPE level of the paddleboarder. The results indicate that SUP meets American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for positively affecting body composition and improving cardiorespiratory endurance.