Energy cost of walking and running at extreme uphill and downhill slopes
- Minetti, Alberto E. Centre for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Alsager, Cheshire ST7 2HL, United Kingdom; and
- Moia, Christian Département de Physiologie, Centre Médical Universitaire, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland;
- Roi, Giulio S. Medical Committee, Federation for Sport at Altitude, 13900 Biella, Italy
- Susta, Davide Département de Physiologie, Centre Médical Universitaire, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland;
- Ferretti, Guido Département de Physiologie, Centre Médical Universitaire, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland;
Published in:
- Journal of Applied Physiology. - American Physiological Society. - 2002, vol. 93, no. 3, p. 1039-1046
English
The costs of walking (Cw) and running (Cr) were measured on 10 runners on a treadmill inclined between −0.45 to +0.45 at different speeds. The minimum Cw was 1.64 ± 0.50 J · kg−1 · m−1 at a 1.0 ± 0.3 m/s speed on the level. It increased on positive slopes, attained 17.33 ± 1.11 J · kg−1 · m−1 at +0.45, and was reduced to 0.81 ± 0.37 J · kg−1 · m−1 at −0.10. At steeper slopes, it increased to reach 3.46 ± 0.95 J · kg−1 · m−1 at −0.45. Cr was 3.40 ± 0.24 J · kg−1 · m−1 on the level, independent of speed. It increased on positive slopes, attained 18.93 ± 1.74 J · kg−1 · m−1 at +0.45, and was reduced to 1.73 ± 0.36 J · kg−1 · m−1 at −0.20. At steeper slopes, it increased to reach 3.92 ± 0.81 J · kg−1 · m−1 at −0.45. The mechanical efficiencies of walking and running above +0.15 and below −0.15 attained those of concentric and eccentric muscular contraction, respectively. The optimum gradients for mountain paths approximated 0.20–0.30 for both gaits. Downhill, Cr was some 40% lower than reported in the literature for sedentary subjects. The estimated maximum running speeds on positive gradients corresponded to those adopted in uphill races; on negative gradients they were well above those attained in downhill competitions.
- Language
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- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1152/japplphysiol.01177.2001
- ISSN 8750-7587
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/149739
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