Skip to main content
Log in

Summary

Energy expenditure in walking is usually expressed as a function of walking speed. However, this relationship applies only to freely adopted step length-step rate patterns. Both the step length and the step rate must be used to predict the energy expenditure for any combination of step length and step rate. Evidence on seven subjects indicates that the energy demand for such a combination can be determined by conducting two experiments. In the first, the subject is allowed to freely choose his own walking pattern to achieve a set of prescribed speeds. In the second, the speed is kept constant but the subject is forced to adopt a range of prescribed step rates. The results of the two experiments combined yield enough data to make possible the determination of the energy equation of the pattern, encompassing both “free” and “forced” gaits. Results show that the freely chosen step rate requires the least oxygen consumption at any given speed. Any other forced step rate at the same speed increases the oxygen cost over that required for the “free” step rate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atzler, E., Herbst, R.: Arbeitsphysiologische Studien. Part 3. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 215, 291–328 (1927)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobbert, A. C.: Energy expenditure in level and grade walking. J. appl. Physiol. 15, 1015–1020 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Givoni, B., Goldman, R. F.: Predicting metabolic energy cost. J. appl. Physiol. 30, 429–433 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Molen, N. H., Rozendal, R. H., Boon, W.: Graphic representation of the relationship between oxygen-consumption and characteristics of normal gait of the human male. Proc. kon. med. Akad. Wet. C 75, 305–314 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, E. A., Franz, H.: Energieverbrauchsmessungen bei beruflicher Arbeit mit einer verbesserten Respirations-Gasuhr. Arbeitsphysiologie, 14, 499–504 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralston, H. J.: Energy-speed relation and optimal speed during level walking. Int. Z. angew. Physiol. 17, 277–283 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weir, J. B. de V.: New methods for calculating metabolic rate with special reference to protein metabolism. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 109, 1–9 (1949)

    Google Scholar 

  • Workman, J. M., Armstrong, B. W.: Oxygen cost of treadmill walking. J. appl. Physiol. 18, 798–803 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarrugh, M. Y., Todd, F. N., Ralston, H. J.: Optimization of energy expenditure during level walking. Europ. J. appl. Physiol. 33, 293–306 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarrugh, M. Y.: Determination of the metabolic cost of the total walking pattern. Physiologist (Abstr.) 18, 461 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zarrugh, M.Y., Radcliffe, C.W. Predicting metabolic cost of level walking. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 38, 215–223 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00430080

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00430080

Key words

Navigation