title: Energy cost and physiological responses of males snowshoeing with rotating and fixed toe-cord designs in powdered snow conditions.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the energy cost and physiological responses of males while snowshoeing with two separate toe-cord designs (rotating toe-cord system vs. fixed toe-cord design) in powdered snow conditions. Eight males snowshoed at self-selected intensity for two, 1600 m trials in two snowshoes, with a rotating toe-cord system and a fixed-toe cord design. It was found that heart rate (HR) (140 vs. 134 beats min(-1)), oxygen consumption (VO(2)) (63.4 vs. 34.0 ml kg(-1)min(-1)), energy cost (56.0 vs. 52.4 kJ min(-1)), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) (13 vs. 12) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher while snowshoeing with the fixed toe-cord design than with the rotating toe-cord system. Snowshoeing with the rotating toe-cord system at an average speed of 3.96 km h(-1) produced mean VO(2) values that were 56% of VO(2) max, while snowshoeing with the fixed toe-cord design at 3.86 km h(-1) evoked mean VO(2) values that were 60% of VO(2) max. Mean HR while snowshoeing with the rotating toe-cord system was 70% of HR max, while the mean HR when snowshoeing with the fixed toe-cord design was 74% of HR max. These findings suggest that snowshoeing with a rotating toe-cord system results in lower cardiorespiratory strain in powdered snow conditions compared to snowshoeing with a fixed toe-cord design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA. lcdalleck@worldnet.att.net
authors.forename: Lance C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Dalleck
authors.forename: Dale E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: DeVoe
authors.forename: Len
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kravitz
mesh_terms: D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012914:Snow; D014481:United States; D016138:Walking