Reaction of Clients and Fitness Instructors to Noise in Fitness Centers | Chapter 6 | Issues and Development in Health Research Vol. 1

 In Brazil, noise is becoming increasingly associated with leisure activities, such as working out in fitness centres, where thousands of instructors and clients are exposed to high sound pressure levels for several hours each day without any protection. This is concerning for their emotional and physical well-being. This study looked at the effects of noise on instructors and clients in fitness centres using measurements of sound pressure levels – equivalent sound levels (Leq), minimum (Lmin), and maximum (Lmax) levels, as well as simulations of acoustic parameters (reverberation time – RT and speech transmission index – STI). The information was gathered Odeon Room Acoustics v. 9.2 Combined software was used to run computer simulations. Based on their responses to a questionnaire, the impacts of noise on instructors and clients at fitness centres were found. The data were statistically analysed using R version 2.11.1 software, with a level of significance of 5% (p 0.05). The results showed that sound pressure levels (Leq) ranged from 82 to 100 decibels (A), with a maximum level (Lmax) of 117.2 decibels (A), exceeding the legally mandated noise limitations. It was discovered that changes made in fitness facilities reduced reverberation time and changed the rating of the voice transmission index from poor to average. Tiredness and vocal exhaustion were regular complaints from clients and instructors. By the end of the day, fitness instructors allegedly experienced a variety of voice changes, the most common of which was hoarseness. It was concluded that, contrary to expectations, fitness centre environments where people seek to improve their health and engage in leisure activities have high sound pressure levels similar to those found in industrial environments, posing a serious threat to the health of their clients and, in particular, their working fitness instructors. The findings of this study clearly show the necessity for methods to reduce and regulate the negative impacts of noise in the fitness industry. centres. This can be accomplished by limiting the amount of noise that exercise instructors and clients are exposed to, such as installing noise absorption materials on the ceilings and walls of fitness centres. Eliminate the volume of music played during workout sessions as another strategy to reduce noise.

Author (s) Details

Paulo Henrique Trombetta Zannin
Laboratory of Environmental and Industrial Acoustics and Acoustic Comfort, Federal University of Paraná – UFPR, PR, Brazil.

Karyn Lia Hamad Anjelo
Laboratory of Environmental and Industrial Acoustics and Acoustic Comfort, Federal University of Paraná – UFPR, PR, Brazil.

Andrei Rei Rodrigues Silveira
Laboratory of Environmental and Industrial Acoustics and Acoustic Comfort, Federal University of Paraná – UFPR, PR, Brazil.

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