Journal of Applied Physiology Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol 93: 1039-1046, 2002; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01177.2001
8750-7587/02 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Free
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (14)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Minetti, A. E.
Right arrow Articles by Ferretti, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Minetti, A. E.
Right arrow Articles by Ferretti, G.
Vol. 93, Issue 3, 1039-1046, September 2002

Energy cost of walking and running at extreme uphill and downhill slopes

Alberto E. Minetti2, Christian Moia1, Giulio S. Roi3, Davide Susta1, and Guido Ferretti1

1 Département de Physiologie, Centre Médical Universitaire, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland; 2 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 3 Medical Committee, Federation for Sport at Altitude, 13900 Biella, Italy

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.

gradients; exercise; optimum path; maximum running speed


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
J. S. Gottschall and R. Kram
Mechanical energy fluctuations during hill walking: the effects of slope on inverted pendulum exchange
J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2006; 209(24): 4895 - 4900.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
P. E. di Prampero, S. Fusi, L. Sepulcri, J. B. Morin, A. Belli, and G. Antonutto
Sprint running: a new energetic approach
J. Exp. Biol., July 15, 2005; 208(14): 2809 - 2816.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Epidemiol. Community HealthHome page
N. Baibas, A. Trichopoulou, E. Voridis, and D. Trichopoulos
Residence in mountainous compared with lowland areas in relation to total and coronary mortality. A study in rural Greece
J. Epidemiol. Community Health, April 1, 2005; 59(4): 274 - 278.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
C. T. Moritz, S. M. Greene, and C. T. Farley
Neuromuscular changes for hopping on a range of damped surfaces
J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2004; 96(5): 1996 - 2004.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online