The Effect of Ground Inclination and Mountaineering Equipment Weight in Cardiorespiratory During Walking

Abstract

It has been proved that the distribution of weight close to center of the body has smaller repercussion in energy consumption, rather carrying it far from it. At the same time the weight carriage from the shoulders in comparison with back load, requires greater energy and oxygen consumption. Simultaneously, the comparison of different load levels proved that loads of 5 kg and more, present important differences in the engagement of oxygen during walking at different speeds and inclinations. During smaller loads, no important differences have been observed. The aim of this study was the evaluation and comparison of the cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during three different treadmill walking situations, without load and carrying two different types of mountaineering equipment. Twenty one students from the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki volunteered to participate in this study. The main characteristics of the participants were: age of 23,3 ± 4,6 years, height 171,3 ± 9,0 cm, body mass 67,0 ± 11,4 kg, maximum heart rate (HRmax) 187,0 ± 0,8 beats/min, ventilation maximum (VEmax) 111,0 ± 29,2 l/min and maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) 42,8 ± 6,5
ml/kg/min. Oxygen consumption relative to body weight values presented significant differences in all levels of inclination
(without gear, with 3season gear and winter gear). At the same time, important differences in the percentage of VO2max values were noted, mainly between carrying winter equipment and walking without equipment. Respectively, pulmonary ventilation presented significant differences between these two circumstances of loading. Heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio and lactic acid, did not presented any statistically important differences. Results revealed that oxygen consumption and intensity of exercise, expressed in percentages of VO2max, reflect better than heart rate the differences of physiological response during hill walking and carrying different types of equipment.