Psychophysiological Data Harmonization for the Sustainability of Outdoor Activities

Olga Papale, Emanuel Festino, Giancarlo Condello, Francesca Di Rocco, Marianna De Maio, Cristina Cortis () and Andrea Fusco
Additional contact information
Olga Papale: Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino e Lazio Meridionale, Viale dell’Università, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Emanuel Festino: Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino e Lazio Meridionale, Viale dell’Università, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Giancarlo Condello: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
Francesca Di Rocco: Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino e Lazio Meridionale, Viale dell’Università, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Marianna De Maio: Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino e Lazio Meridionale, Viale dell’Università, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Cristina Cortis: Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino e Lazio Meridionale, Viale dell’Università, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Andrea Fusco: Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino e Lazio Meridionale, Viale dell’Università, 03043 Cassino, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: Prolonged sedentary behavior is considered a risk factor for health throughout the human lifespan. Although outdoor activities, such as walking and hiking, can be effective in reducing sedentary behavior, there is a lack of data harmonization on the psychophysiological characteristics of hiking trails. Therefore, this research protocol aims to provide an innovative and uniform methodology to provide a psychophysiological characterization of hiking. Enrolled subjects will be allocated in groups equally distributed for age, physical activity level (physically active vs. sedentary), and sex (male vs. female). Subjects will perform two treadmill tests in laboratory sessions and two hiking tests in field sessions. The Ruffier test will be performed before each session to assess subjects’ exercise capacity. During each session, body mass measurement, cardiometabolic evaluation, heart rate and heart rate variability monitoring, rating of perceived exertion, and physical activity enjoyment rate will be assessed. To measure breath-by-breath ventilation, oxygen consumption, and energy expenditure, subjects will be equipped with a portable gas analyzer during one laboratory session and one field session. Findings from the present study protocol have the potential to fill a gap in assessing hiking-related fitness, promoting physical and mental health, and offering a practical way to evaluate fitness for hiking, encouraging outdoor activity. These findings will have the potential to impact tourism, health, and well-being through outdoor experiences.

Keywords: walking; physical inactivity; sedentary lifestyle; hiking; exercise prescription (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/15838/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/15838/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:22:p:15838-:d:1277953

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().