Abstract des Autors

This study compared the aerobic metabolic requirements of normal walking (without handweights and with normal arm motions) with requirements of walking while pumping 1-, 2-, or 3-lb handweights through various ranges of motion. Nine male subjects walked with and without handweights at speeds of 1.12 to 1.79 m/sec. Adding handweighted arm movements significantly increased the oxygen consumption (V02) of normal walking by 2.1 to 25.5 ml/kg/min. The V02 for handweighted walking ranged from 17 to 43 ml/kg/min, or 113 to 255 of normal walking requirements at any given speed. These results indicate that walking while moving handweights through large ranges of motion provides a combined upper and lower body aerobic stimulus that is sufficient for endurance training for persons with poor to excellent levels of aerobic fitness. Verf.-Referat