Abstract:
Past studies have showed mixed evidence regarding the effects of load carriage on stride length. Some studies have observed a decrease while others noticed no change in average stride length. Past studies have also been inconsistent with the usage of hip straps that are meant to transfer weight onto the larger muscles groups of the legs, which might lower metabolic cost. Our experiment considers both flat and inclined surfaces when determining whether backpack loads and the usage of hip and chest straps affect a walker's step length and post-exercise heartrate. The degree of increase of the post-exercise heartrate from the resting heartrate was used as a measure for fatigue in the subjects. Sixteen college students underwent eight walking trials on a treadmill on which the speed and distance traveled was fixed. Our data indicates that load carriage decreases average step length when the walker is on an inclined surface, but not on a flat surface. In addition, we found that load carrying, regardless of whether hip and chest straps are used, results in a greater increase in heartrate, both on a flat and inclined surface. Hip and chest straps used with loads are found to result in a lower increase in heartrate on flat surfaces, indicating a possible metabolic benefit of its usage.
Introduction:
Walking is a daily activity that is carried out without much thinking. In addition, people often carry loads to transport items to where they need to go. One of the most efficient ways of transporting objects is by carrying them in a backpack. A wide variety of packs are available, one of which is the widely used backpack with two straps that go over the shoulders, popular because of the stability they give th...
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The Queens College/McArdle Step Test, the Rockport One Mile Walk Test, and the 1.5 Mile Run Test are three different field tests that were performed in this lab that were used to measure and predict an individual’s aerobic capacity. The measurement of aerobic capacity, or VO2 max, is a valid way to assess an individual’s cardiorespiratory fitness level. VO2 max refers to the maximal amount of oxygen an individual utilizes during intensive exercise. A higher VO2 max demonstrates a more efficient cardiorespiratory system as an individual with a higher VO2 max can sustain a higher intensity for a longer
We see that the estimated VO2 max for the treadmill is slightly higher than that of the arm bike. This happens because walking is something she does more regularly, and estimated VO2 max scores are higher2 in tests with modes of exercise the subject is more use to.
Another weakness in the experimental design was that the reliability of the experiment was very low. As each test subject was only tested against each amount of prior exercise once, the impact of random errors is likely very large, which can be seen by the spread of the data on the graph. Although, this was attempted to be rectified by averaging the results of all four test subjects, it does not improve reliability too much. Conclusion: The results of this investigation indicated that a relationship between the amount of prior exercise and muscle fatigue does exist, however the results are also not conclusive enough to speculate on what the relationship is. This means that the hypothesis “If the amount of time spent performing vigorous exercise prior to the set of repetitions increases, then the physical performance (number of repetitions) will decrease” cannot be supported or rejected due to the inconclusive data.
What really shocked me at this point is that with all this weight the soldiers had to carry with them, they were expected to be very mobile and able to haul around everything for miles at a time. The only benefit I could possible see coming out of all the things they carried is the protection the backpack gave the soldiers from the spraying of bullets during battle. Other than that, the more the men carried, the more their moral went down under those conditions. I think that the author brilliantly described this story. It was almost like I felt my backpack getting heavier as I was reading on and the items kept increasing.
Scibek, J. S., Gatti, J. M., & Mckenzie, J. I. (2012). Into the Red Zone. Journal of Athletic Training, 47(4), 428-434.
Soldiers in the Vietnam War had to carry all of their belongings on their bodies with them over great distances of walking, earning Vietnam soldiers the nickname ‘Grunts’. Thus, they tried to limit their already grueling load as much as possible. In Tim O’Brien’s, The Things They Carried, he creates a detailed outline of the items carried by soldiers in the Vietnam War, which were “largely determined by necessity” (2). While most were out of necessity, the soldiers in the text also had many things that were strictly for personal reasons. The soldiers were already weighed down tremendously by their gear and weapons that were necessities, yet they chose to carry around the extra weight of seemingly useless objects. Some people carried objects
This lab experiment was conducted in a Texas Woman’s University exercise physiology lab room, on September 20, 2013. It consisted of two main participants: A trained participant (Male; 30 years old; 72 in. tall; 82.9 kg) and an untrained participant (Female; 20 years old; 65 in. tall; 75 kg). They were selected by my Prof. April Hartman to participate because they were best qualified to conduct the study in our class. Both participants were assigned to carry out the same experimental task. The Bruce Protocol (graded test) on a treadmill (mode of exercise) was used to conduct the VO2max test. The materials needed were: 1 metabolic cart (with computers); 2 mouthpieces; 1 nose clip; 1 treadmill; 1 RPE scale; 1 timer; pen; paper; and a HR monitor.
6. Mike, Jonathan N., M.S., and Len Kravitz, Ph.D. (2009). "Recovery in Training: The Essential
In order to develop this prosthesis they had to go through two main phases, the analysis of a jogger wearing a standard walking prosthesis and computer simulation of the flexing of the knee on this walking prosthesis. They had to measure rotation, weight bearing, moments, and t...
The Squat is a natural movement humans have done since they existed. If you pay attention you’ll notice people all over the world Squat, often unconsciously. Quick examples… Babies routinely play while sitting in a Squat position, and will Squat to stand up. Asian people often
Looking at the anthropometric measures I am below average in weight category and above average in height which is important features for a tennis player. Another important aspect for a tennis player is arm span which is 2 centimeters below my height but still quite large compared to the average and that helps to cover the tennis court more effectively when playing a tennis match. However, one of the most important factors while playing tennis is endurance because sometimes tennis match can last up to three hours or even longer. Therefore, when I was performing cardiovascular assessment and used Bruce Treadmill Test, I was able to last 15 minutes on the treadmill without stopping. When the test was finished, the test administrators calculated my VO2 max which was 55.05 ml/kg/min. That type of score puts me in the “superior” category and this is really important test for tennis players which I probably will use in the future for my tennis players when I will become a tennis coach. Other tests which also put me in the “above average” or “superior” category were flexibility sit-and-reach tests. This is also an important aspect for a tennis player since being flexible helps to avoid injuries while participating in practices or tennis
Not only is walking a simple way to exercise, but it also has a lot of benefits, “The cardiovascular benefits of walking are biologically plausible; like other forms of regular moderate exercise, walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress” (Harvard Health.). Despite not breaking the biggest sweat during and after walking, given the benefits, it is obvious that walking is an effective way to exercise. Although walking is minimal and often overlooked as a way to exercise, it can decrease cardiac risk factors and improves mental health due to endorphins released while exercising. Walking is a way to increase heart rate and exercise the heart to make it pump blood more efficiently, which leads to a reduction in heart problems. By fighting obesity, walking also has the ability to create a higher quality of life, more body confidence, and decrease knee and heart problems for overweight people. Walking leisurely for even half an hour for 5 days a week, the recommended 150 minutes, can decrease common health issues and risk factors. Walking has the ability to modify a relatively out of shape person with various health issues into a thriving and well-energized person. Moreover, walking is a nonstrenuous way to exercise to create a healthier and happier
In order to fully understand the impact and effect of overtraining, defining and establishing the difference of what overtraining is from other conditions, such as overreaching, is necessary. Overtraining is defined as the accumulation of both training and non-training stresses producing a long-term effect on the athlete’s performance capacity, with or without physical and psychological overtraining signs and symptoms in which recovery of the performance capacity will take weeks to months (Halson, 2004 p. 969). Overreaching, however, is defined by the accumulation of training and non-training stresses with a short-term effect on the a...
[1] Lemura L.M., Von Dubillard S.P., Mookerjee S. The Effects of Physical Exercise on Functional Capacity in Adults. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2010;40:1-10.
walking so that you can keep your muscles strong, but you must walk carefully so that you don’t hurt