ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2012 December;171(6):683-92

Copyright © 2012 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Physiological responses to balance walking

Buresh R.

Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of the use of walking poles and angle-soled shoes (i.e., Balance Walking), cumulatively, and independently, on the physiological responses to walking, and to determine the influence of velocity on those effects.
METHODS: Twenty females and 5 males (22.36 ± 3.23 yr) exercised in 4 conditions – flat-soled shoes/no poles; angle-soled shoes/no poles; flat-soled shoes/with poles; angle-soled shoes/with poles) in random order. Each session consisted of walking for 3 min at 5 velocities (53.6, 67.0, 80.4, 93.8, and 107.2 m ∙ min-1 )while heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake (VO2) were recorded.
RESULTS: A significant main-effect for shoe-condition and pole-condition was found for HR and VO2 at all walking velocities. In addition, the influence of angle-soled shoes and walking poles was greater at faster velocities.
CONCLUSION: The use of angle-soled shoes or walking poles independently increase the physiological responses to walking, with the combination of both (Balance Walking) being additive.