What Is the Time to Took One Step to Climb the Full Height Would Be

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Peer-reviewed

Research Article

The Free energy Expenditure of Stair Climbing I Step and Ii Steps at a Time: Estimations from Measures of Heart Rate

• Lewis 1000. Halsey,
• David A. R. Watkins,
• Brendan Thou. Duggan

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• Published: December 12, 2012
• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0051213

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Abstract

Stairway climbing provides a ubiquitous and inconspicuous method of burning calories. While typically 2 strategies are employed for climbing stairs, climbing one stair step per footstep or two steps per stride, research to appointment has not antiseptic if in that location are whatever differences in energy expenditure between them. Xiv participants took part in two stair climbing trials whereby measures of center rate were used to approximate energy expenditure during stairway ascent at speeds called past the participants. The relationship between rate of oxygen consumption ( ) and heart rate was calibrated for each participant using an inclined treadmill. The trials involved climbing upwardly and down a 14.05 grand loftier stairway, either ascending 1 step per step or ascending 2 stair steps per pace. Single-step climbing used eight.5±0.1 kcal min^−one, whereas double step climbing used nine.2±0.one kcal min⁻ⁱ. These estimations are similar to equivalent measures in all previous studies, which have all directly measured The present written report findings signal that (one) treadmill-calibrated heart charge per unit recordings can be used as a valid alternative to respirometry to ascertain rate of free energy expenditure during stair climbing; (two) ii step climbing invokes a higher rate of free energy expenditure; notwithstanding, i step climbing is energetically more expensive in full over the entirety of a stairway. Therefore to expend the maximum number of calories when climbing a fix of stairs the single-pace strategy is better.

Citation: Halsey LG, Watkins DAR, Duggan BM (2012) The Energy Expenditure of Stair Climbing 1 Footstep and Two Steps at a Time: Estimations from Measures of Heart Rate. PLoS 1 vii(12): e51213. https://doi.org/10.1371/periodical.pone.0051213

Editor: Conrad P. Hostage, University of Bathroom, United Kingdom

Received: July 23, 2012; Accepted: October thirty, 2012; Published: December 12, 2012

Copyright: © 2012 Halsey et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Eatables Attribution License, which permits unrestricted apply, distribution, and reproduction in whatsoever medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding: These authors have no support or funding to study.

Competing interests: Co-writer Lewis Grand. Halsey is a PLOS ONE Editorial Board member. This does not change the authors' adherence to all the PLOS One policies on sharing information and materials.

Introduction

The growing trouble of obesity in developed countries [one] may in function be due to a lack of opportunity for people to undertake strenuous physical exercise in their daily lives. Reasons include fourth dimension or money restrictions, or a lack of suitable facilities [2]. Stairs provide a ubiquitous and price-effective opportunity to incorporate concrete practise into the daily routine. Undertaking regular bouts of physically demanding do is known to be beneficial for general wellness [3]. Indeed, stair climbing has been shown to enhance muscle recruitment and improve cardiovascular capacity [4], [5], [6]. It tin can likewise crave a noteworthy degree of energy expenditure and recently a number of studies accept investigated the free energy costs of stair climbing, in part to define the calorie called-for value of such exercise. For example, one study [5] calculated the energy cost of ascending stairs one step at a time to exist 10.2 kcal min⁻¹.

Every bit Gottschall et al. [vi] note, there are 2 practical strategies for stair climbing; ascending stairs i step at a time (contacting each step and with alternating feet per stride) and ascending stairs ii steps at a time (contacting every other stride and with alternate feet per contacted step). However, comparisons to date of the energetic costs of these two strategies are limited. While Aziz and Teh [7] compared the costs of unmarried step ascents with double step ascents, climbing paces were prescribed to control for stride differences betwixt climbing strategies and thus the results are not fully relevant to natural stair climbing situations. Gottschall et al. [6] recorded the free energy expenditure of participants walking on an inclined treadmill at their preferred pace, to attempt to simulate single step and double step stair climbing, however as the authors state, clearly there are differences in stair climbing and incline walking, most notably the angle of the ankle during opinion.

To our noesis all previous studies of the free energy costs of stair climbing have recorded charge per unit of oxygen consumption ( ) as an indirect measure of rate of energy expenditure. However, in that location are a number of methods for measuring or estimating energy expenditure [viii], some of which are typically cheaper than respirometry. In item, proxies for free energy expenditure such as centre charge per unit and body motion, in one case calibrated, tin can be used to ascertain metabolic rate via only a small data logger adorned by the subject [9], [10]. Proxy methods tin can, therefore, accept logistical and fiscal benefits compared to using a relatively large and expensive portable respirometry arrangement.

Therefore, given that heart rate often correlates linearly and strongly with rate of free energy expenditure during action [11], the present study has ii aims: (1) to test the heart rate method every bit a technique for estimating the energy costs of stair climbing in order (2) to compare the energy costs of one- and 2-stride stair climbing at natural speeds i.eastward. those chosen by participants.

Methods

The methods were canonical by the Academy of Roehampton Ideals Commission. All fourteen participants (eight males and half dozen females; mean mass = 64.3±1 SD eight.9 kg) completed a consent form and a PAR-Q questionnaire prior to selection for participation in the report. They subsequently completed a laboratory treadmill protocol to calibrate heart charge per unit with After a rest period of five minutes, participants carried out stair climb trials on a public access stairway. Both the treadmill protocol and stair climb trials were conducted at the University of Roehampton. Eye rate was measured during the stair climb trials to judge based on the individual-specific prediction equations. Air temperature ranged between 22 and 24°C.

Subsequently completion of a 5 minute warm upward on a treadmill (Woodway Ergo ELG 70) at 5 km h⁻¹ and 0° incline, the heart rate (Polar CS100 wearlink and transmitter) and (Jaeger Oxycon Pro) of each participant were measured while they then walked at unlike gradients (0, 3, v, eight, 10, 12°), again at 5 m h⁻¹. Gradients were experienced in random order. Heart rate and breath by breath were recorded at 0.2 Hz during the final 30 seconds of each ii infinitesimal slope stage.

Stair climb trials were completed in a random lodge on a public access stairway consisting of 86 steps and with a full vertical deportation of xiv.05 m (each footstep averaged sixteen.3 cm in height) over 8 flights and v floors. Each flight was separated by a horizontal connecting platform with a minimum expanse of iv m² (representing a negligible proportion of the total cost to climb the stairway [12]). The elapsing of ascension of the stairway bachelor for the present study was typically less than i infinitesimal. This was deemed unlikely to be sufficient time for participants to achieve cardio-respiratory steady country [4], [5], [13] and thus the protocol required multiple consecutive stairway ascents. A trial therefore consisted of a total of four ascents interspersed by three descents where participants were accompanied by the investigator to assure compliance with the outlined protocol and to record rising and descent durations. Participants were fitted with a middle rate monitor, recording at 0.2 Hz, and instructed to ascend and descend at a constant stride of their choice then long as it was not likewise quick to arm-twist 'bounding'. They were instructed not to utilize handrails or place their hands on their thighs. Two stair climb trials were undertaken; a single stride ascent (ascending one stair step per stride) and a double footstep ascent (ascending two steps per stride). All descents were single step.

Calculations and Statistical Analyses

The descent required after each ascent could perchance have affected centre charge per unit and due to different power demands and kinematics [v], [xiv]. However, it was predictable that after sufficient ascents steady state would yet be reached during them, indicated past plateaued centre rate, because steady state for a specific activity (in this example stair ascending) is reached more chop-chop immediately later on exercise (in this case stair ascending and descending) [xiii]. In turn, the final 30 s of some stairway ascents were anticipated to be periods during which estimated represented rate of energy expenditure. Inspection of the heart charge per unit information per individual subsequent to data collection suggested that centre rate was at to the lowest degree approximately plateauing towards the end of each stairway rising beyond the first ascent, although peak values were slightly higher on the 4th ascent compared to the 2d and third (Effigy 1). This pattern fitted with the likelihood that steady state was non reached during the showtime ascension and that some participants reported or exhibited fatigue past the fourth ascension. Therefore, mean heart rate during the final 30 south of the 2nd and tertiary ascents was calculated for each participant to approximate , at an individual level, during stairway ascension. Estimated was converted to charge per unit of energy expenditure (kcal min⁻¹) assuming ane L O₂ = 5 kcal [15].

Effigy 1. Heart rate over time during four stairway ascents and three descents.

The blackness line represents ascending the stairs ane stair pace at a time (with alternate feet) while the grey line represents ascending two stair steps at a fourth dimension. The grey bars represent the final 30 second periods of the second and 3rd ascents of the 1 step climbing, from which a mean heart rate was obtained to estimate rate of oxygen consumption during stair ascending one stair stride at a fourth dimension. The same method was employed for two pace climbing.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0051213.g001

Such that the present scale data can exist used in future studies for estimating from new measures of eye rate during stair climbing or related activities, a mixed linear model (SPSS, IBM, U.s.a.), including participant identification as a random factor to account for non-independence of the data, was generated to produce a prediction equation from eye charge per unit.

Descriptive statistics are provided as mean values±1 SE. Means of estimates, i.due east. and all values derived from this (estimated energy expended per stair step ascended, estimated energy expended per stride while ascending, estimated energy expended to ascend a flight of stairs 15 chiliad in top), are calculated accounting for differences in the errors associated with the approximate for each participant; each individual value included in the calculation is weighted past the reciprocal of the associated variance. Likewise, the SEs of the estimate means are adjusted. Consequently the SE of estimate means are smaller than would be calculated for unweighted means since in the erstwhile those individual values with less error take more influence on the mean calculation.

Paired t tests, calculated in Excel (Microsoft Corp., USA), were used to compare the measured variables (rise duration, stride stepping rate, middle charge per unit) betwixt the two trials. Proximate normal z tests for paired comparisons, again calculated in Excel, compared all estimated values, since they account for the estimate errors. Proximate normal z tests indicate potent evidence for a difference if z>|ane.96|, i.e. P<0.05. For gauge metrics derived from the associated variance for each private value was calculated by taking the variance associated with the equivalent estimated value and adjusting information technology proportionately to the difference betwixt that estimated value and the derived estimate value, i.e. the variance values were isometrically scaled to the change in mean values.

Results

Tabular array 1 summarises the measures recorded in the present study. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests provided no evidence that whatever of the variables were non-normally distributed. Rise duration was significantly lower for the two step ascent (t₁₃ = 10.62, p<0.001), as was stride charge per unit (t₁₃ = 25.89, p<0.001). The linear equation to approximate from middle charge per unit during stair climbing and like activities, based on the information of the nowadays report, is:

Mean eye charge per unit during periods of steady land ascent was lower for the one step ascent (t_thirteen = ii.63, p = 0.021), every bit was estimated during those periods (z = 2.eighteen). Estimated charge per unit of energy expenditure during stairway ascension was 8.5±0.1 kcal min⁻¹ during the 1 step ascent and 9.2±0.1 kcal min⁻ⁱ during the 2 step ascent. Charge per unit of energy expenditure per stride was higher (z = 2.90, p<0.05) during the two step ascent while at that place was no significant difference in rate of energy expenditure per stair step (z = 0.64, p>0.05). The full energy expended to climb a stairway 15 m in tiptop with one step ascent is greater than with ii step ascent (z = 6.150, p<0.05).

Due to the variation in the relationship betwixt and heart charge per unit between individuals, heart-charge per unit based prediction equations can simply be used to predict centre charge per unit in new individuals at the group level. That is, the higher up equation can only reasonably provide an guess of for the mean of a grouping of individuals (typically at least six) [16]. A mensurate of fault associated with an approximate of hateful derived from the prediction equation must business relationship for the error inherent in the estimate (standard error of the estimate; Run into). To calculate this, data is required that is derived from the raw data and the generation of the above equation. These data are provided here for putative future studies that utilize the prediction equation presented in the electric current study: number of individuals in the model to generate the equation (north_one) = 14, number of data points in the model to generate the equation (n_ii) = 86, variance approximate of participant identification as a random cistron (d²) = 146435.7, variance estimate of the fault (e²) = 23851.ane, the mean value of heart rate used in the regression ( ) = 117.8 and the sum of the squares of all the values of heart rate less mean heart rate ( ), (termed in [sixteen]), = 39121.3. For details of calculating an SEE for mean estimated , refer to [sixteen].

Discussion

The nowadays information evidence that climbing flights of stairs two steps at a time requires a higher charge per unit of free energy expenditure than climbing them one pace at a time. A similar finding was reported by Gottschall et al. [6] for treadmill walking on a representative incline at voluntarily selected paces for one- and two-step stair climbing. Yet, no previous studies to our knowledge accept reported that full energy expenditure is lower for ascending a stairway two steps at a time; the higher rate of energy expenditure when ascending two at a time is due to the higher preferred footstep of participants in this situation (see Aziz and Teh [seven]).

Rates of energy expenditure of stairway ascending reported in the current study are very similar to those provided by previous studies investigating the cost of stair climbing or similar climbing scenarios (Table 2). This indicates that the use of eye rate as a proxy for charge per unit of energy expenditure during stair climbing, where center charge per unit has been calibrated using an inclined treadmill, is an accurate method of interpretation, despite these ii activities being somewhat different (and even when the experimental design involves periods of stairway descent punctuating the periods of ascent). In turn, this perhaps indicates that incline treadmill walking and stairway ascending have similar energy costs and evoke like muscle utilization. The underlying explanation for this could be that the overriding toll involved with both stair ascending and walking up an equivalent incline is that required to raise the centre of mass against gravity [12], [17].

Previous work has measured using respirometry and this requires expensive portable gas assay equipment or Douglas bags, which can be cumbersome for measuring activity. Furthermore, there take been reports that wearing a mask can exist considered restrictive to breathing during periods of high respiratory activity [18], [19] and some participants experience restricted vision. In dissimilarity, measuring heart rate requires but a inexpensive and relatively simple eye rate monitor. Time to come studies using centre rate as a proxy for rate of energy expenditure during stair climbing or related activities can use the prediction equation provided in the present study for groups of participants that are healthy adults (and approximately within the range of masses of the participants in the present study). Proponents are reminded that estimates of free energy expenditure obtained this style volition have greater associated errors than measures of energy expenditure obtained through eastward.thou. respirometry because of the imperfect fit of the –heart charge per unit calibration data.

The power required to elevator the body against gravity during stair climbing explains the greater energy expenditure per step during two stride ascents; the body is lifted twice the peak per stride [14]. However, total energy expenditure to ascend a stairway of typical pinnacle (fifteen thou) is greater during 1 step ascents (although the nowadays study did not find a divergence in energy cost per stairway stride between 1 and 2 pace ascents this is probable due to sensitivity limitations in predicting from heart charge per unit for very short periods of time). The greater total energy expenditure of one pace ascents of stairways is presumably explained at least in function by the greater ascent duration. Notwithstanding, there may also be a biomechanical caption also. Since stair step rate is higher during single stepping this may result in faster rates of musculus shortening, which increases energy turnover [twenty], and the greater recruitment of fast twitch muscle fibres which are less economic. Run across Aziz and Teh [7] for a detailed commentary on biomechanical explanations for heightened energetic costs associated with stepping faster.

The communication to those seeking to utilize stair climbing specifically as a method to control or reduce weight [21] is to ascend stairways 1 step at a time; more than calories are burned through this form of stair climbing. For instance, climbing just a fifteen m high stairway 5 times a solar day represents an energy expenditure of on average 302 kcal per calendar week using the one stride strategy and 266 kcal using the two stride strategy.

Acknowledgments

Cheers to Dr Jon Green for his good support concerning the statistical assay of judge values.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: LH DW. Performed the experiments: LH DW. Analyzed the data: LH DW BD. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: LH. Wrote the newspaper: LH DW BD.

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