RODGERS, C. D., J. L. VANHEEST, and C. L. SCHACHTER. Energy expenditure during submaximal walking with Exerstriders. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 607-611, 1995. This study was designed to determine whether Exerstriding, a modified form of walking using walking sticks (Exerstriders), resulted in an augmented cardiorespiratory response and a greater energy expenditure than when walking without Exerstriders. Female subjects (23.6 +/- 4.0 yr; 58.5 +/- 5.5 kg) completed two randomly assigned trials of treadmill walking (6.7 km[middle dot]h-1; 0% grade; 30 min.) with (Exerstrider +/- (E)) and without Exerstriders (Control (C)). Mean oxygen consumption (E = 20.5 +/- 1.2 ml[middle dot]min-1[middle dot]kg-1; C = 18.3 +/- 2.5 ml[middle dot]min-1[middle dot]kg-1), heart rate (E = 132.5 +/- 19.2 beats[middle dot]min-1; C = 121.5 +/- 21.2 beats[middle dot]min-1) and respiratory exchange ratio (E = .82 +/- .03; C = .78 +/- .04) were significantly greater (P >= 0.05) while walking with Exerstriders. Total caloric expenditure was also significantly greater during the Exerstrider condition (E = 173.7 +/- 20.9 kcal; C = 140.7 +/- 27.2 kcal.). In contrast, the rating of perceived exertion did not differ significantly between the two conditions. These data suggest that Exerstriding provides a means to increase caloric expenditure during submaximal walking, a factor that may be of critical importance in enhancing health benefits-such as improved body composition and aerobic capacity-typically associated with walking programs.
(C)1995The American College of Sports Medicine