Energy expenditure in level and grade walking

¹ Department for Occupational Medicine, Netherlands Institute for Preventive Medicine, Leiden, Netherlands

An empirical formula was developed from which mean values for energy expenditure per kilogram of body weight (E_w) can be calculated for groups of normal adult males, walking on a motor-driven treadmill with speeds in the range of 35–115 m/min. and gradients in the range of 0–12 degrees. The formula was derived from experiments with two subjects. From the results it appears that E_w increases with the square of speed both in level and grade walking and that log E_w increases linearly with the geometric angle (in degrees). The validity of the formula was tested by experiments with 4 other subjects and experimental data from the literature. A close agreement between actual and predicted values was found. Factors influencing individual values for E_w are discussed. A diagram is presented from which E_w may be read off for various combinations of gradient and speed.

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