title: The energetics of walking on sand and grass at various speeds.
abstract: This study investigated the energetics of walking on sand and grass. Fourteen adult males, participated in the study. Participants had a mean age of 34.6 years old, 72.6 kg in mass and 172.5 cm in stature, who walked at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 km per h on sand and grass surfaces. Physiological measures included heart rate, O(2) uptake, CO(2) exhalation, ventilation and relative O(2) uptake using a MetaMax Ergospirometer. Speed was controlled in a methodology similar to the 'Multistage 20-m Shuttle Run Test'. Data were collected during physiological steady rate at each determined speed. A minimum of 2 h rest was enforced between randomized conditions. Results indicate that there was a significant increase (p < 0.01) in all measured physiological indices indicative of energy expenditure when walking on sand compared to grass at 3-7 km per h, with the greatest disparity between the surfaces (ratio = 1.63) in relative O(2) consumption at 5 km per h.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Management, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Mowbray Campus, 7700, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa. daviess@cput.ac.za
authors.forename: S E H
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D006109:Poaceae; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide