Noise in aerobic facilities.

ABSTRACT

Noise levels were evaluated before and during aerobic sessions in 3 aerobic studios. In addition, hearing threshold levels (HTLs) of 10 female aerobic instructors with the mean (+/- SD) ages of 25.4 (+/- 2.4) years were measured before and 2 min after an aerobic session. The mean (+/- SD) of total instruction time of these subjects was 1274.0 (+/- 704.9) h. Before the aerobic session, noise level was 63 dB(A) and increased to 87 dB(A) during a warm-up period. The highest noise levels of 93-96 dB(A) were recorded during a peak exercise period and decreased to 73 dB(A) during a cool-down period. The dominant spectra of sound pressure levels (SPLs) during the aerobic session were in the frequency range of 1-2 kHz at levels of 75-88 dB(C). The mean values of HTL obtained for each ear of these subjects were between 5 and 15 dB in the frequency range of 1-8 kHz. No significant differences in the mean HTLs of pre- and post-aerobic sessions could be obtained. The mean values of HTL of two groups of subjects divided by their total instruction time (n = 5 in each group, and p < 0.01 in their total instruction time) were quite comparable.