The mechanical efficiencies of running and bicycling against a horizontal impeding force

Experiments using a horizontal impeding force to determine the apparent mechanical efficiency of subjects running or bicycling on a horizontal treadmill are described.Two treadmills were used for the running experiments, one at Hampstead and one at Oxford. (Some of the results for the Oxford treadmill presented in another paper [10] are included for purposes of comparison.) It was found that the energy cost of unloaded running was significantly lower for the Hampstead treadmill. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed.Apparent efficiencies were calculated as the inverse of the slope of the linear regression of metabolic rate on external work rate × 10². For both running and bicycling, the relation between metabolic rate and external work rate was found to be linear, so that the apparent efficiencies were independent of the magnitude of external loading.The mean value for three well-trainedathletes for apparent load-running efficiency (LRE) at Hampstead was 39.1%. This was not significantly different from the value of 36.1% previously obtained on athletes at Oxford. In addition, there were no significant differences between the LRE values found at Hampstead and Oxford for the two athletes studied on both treadmills.     

Pygmy locomotion

The hypothesis that Pygmies may differ from Caucasians in some aspects of the mechanics of locomotion was tested. A total of 13 Pygmies and 7 Caucasians were asked to walk and run on a treadmill at 4–12 km · h^–1. Simultaneous metabolic measurements and three-dimensional motion analysis were performed allowing the energy expenditure and the mechanical external and internal work to be calculated. In Pygmies the metabolic energy cost was higher during walking at all speeds (P < 0.05), but tended to be lower during running (NS). The stride frequency and the internal mechanical work were higher for Pygmies at all walking (P < 0.05) and running (NS) speeds although the external mechanical work was similar. The total mechanical work for Pygmies was higher during walking (P < 0.05), but not during running and the efficiency of locomotion was similar in all subjects and speeds. The higher cost of walking in Pygmies is consistent with the allometric prediction for smaller subjects. The major determinants of the higher cost of walking was the difference in stride frequency (+9.45, SD 0.44% for Pygmies), which affected the mechanical internal work. This explains the observed higher total mechanical work of walking in Pygmies, even when the external component was the same. Most of the differences between Pygmies and Caucasians, observed during walking, tended to disappear when the speed was normalized as the Fronde number. However, this was not the case for running. Thus, whereas the tested hypothesis must be rejected for walking, the data from running, do indeed suggest that Pygmies may differ in some aspects of the mechanics of locomotion.     

Differences in leg muscle activity during running and cycling in humans

Delta (Δ) efficiency is defined as the ratio of an increment in the external mechanical power output to the increase in metabolic power required to produce it. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether differences in leg muscle activity between running and cycling can explain the observed difference in Δ efficiency between the two activities. A group of 11 subjects performed incremental submaximal running and cycling tests on successive days. The Δ efficiencies during running and cycling were based on five exercise stages. Electromyograph (EMG) measurements were made of three leg muscles (gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis and biceps femoris). Kendall's correlation coefficients between the mean EMG activity and the load applied were calculated for each muscle, for both running and cycling. As expected, the mean Δ efficiency during running (42%) was significantly greater than that during cycling (25%). For cycling, all muscles showed a significant correlation between mean EMG activity and the load applied. For running, however, only the gastrocnemius muscle showed a significant, but low correlation (r=0.33). The correlation coefficients of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles were not significantly different from 0. The results were interpreted as follows. In contrast to cycling, which includes only concentric contractions, during running up inclines eccentric muscle actions play an important role. With steeper inclines, more concentric contractions must be produced to overcome the external force, whereas the amount of eccentric muscle actions decreases. This change in the relative contribution of concentric and eccentric muscle actions, in combination with the fact that eccentric muscle actions require much less metabolic energy than concentric contractions, can explain the difference between the running and cycling Δ efficiency. Electronic Publication     

High mechanical efficiency of left ventricular arrhythmic contractions during atrial fibrillation

We analyzed the frequency distribution of the left ventricular (LV) mechanical efficiency of individual arrhythmic beats during electrically induced atrial fibrillation (AF) in normal canine hearts. This efficiency is the fraction of the external mechanical work (EW) in the total mechanical energy measured by the systolic pressure-volume area (PVA). The mean, median, and mode of this efficiency (EW/PVA) were as high as 78%, 80%, and 81%, respectively, on average in six hearts. These high efficiencies were comparable to that of the regular beats in these hearts. The frequency distribution of the EW/PVA during AF tended to skew to the higher side in all the hearts. Since the EW/PVA is directly related to both the ventriculo-arterial (or afterload) coupling ratio (E(a)/E(max); E(a) = effective arterial elastance, E(max) = end-systolic ventricular elastance) and the ejection fraction on a per-beat basis, we also analyzed their frequency distributions. We found them to skew enough to account for the rightward skewed frequency distribution of the EW/PVA during AF with the unexpectedly high mean EW/PVA. These results indicate that the LV arrhythmia during AF per se does not directly suppress the mean level of LV mechanical efficiency in normal canine hearts.     

Mechanical work and efficiency in treadmill running at aerobic and anaerobic thresholds

Mechanical work, mechanical power, energy consumption and mechanical efficiency were studied in constant-speed treadmill running of 5 min at seven different exercises around aerobic (AerT) and anaerobic (AnT) thresholds. The true efficiency of concentric (positive) mechanical work and gross efficiency of the whole body in seven male subjects were calculated. The total mechanical work was calculated from film through the translational, potential and rotational energy states as the sum of the changes of all the mechanical energy states in all body segments allowing energy transfer between segments and from energy state to state. The total energy consumption was measured by combining aerobic and anaerobic energy production in resting and working conditions. When the speed of the treadmill was increased from the velocity of 10 km h-1 (2.8 m s-1) to 22 km h-1 (6.1 m s-1), the concentric mechanical work per one step increased from 129 +/- 45 J to 228 +/- 82 J (P less than 0.01). Oxygen consumption increased from 2.22 +/- 0.27 1 min-1 to 4.47 +/- 0.24 1 min-1. The amount of blood lactate increased from 0.94 +/- 0.53 mmol l-1 at the lowest speed to 9.90 +/- 2.89 mmol l-1 at the highest speed (P less than 0.001). The true efficiency of concentric work decreased from 74 +/- 14% to 56 +/- 8% (P less than 0.05). At the speed of the AerT, the economy of running, the vertical rise of different body segments and mechanical efficiency of positive work were high. The highest gross efficiency was found at the running speed between the AerT and AnT.     

The relation of oxygen intake and speed in competition cycling and comparative observations on the bicycle ergometer

1. The relation of V(O2) and speed was determined on six competition cyclists riding at speeds ranging from 12 km/hr to 41 km/hr on the runway of an airfield. Comparative measurements were made on the bicycle ergometer to determine the corresponding work rates, and from this information rolling resistance and air resistance were derived.2. V(O2) was a curvilinear function of cycling speed, and increased from 0.88 l./min at 12.5 km/hr to 5.12 l./min at 41 km/hr, mean body weight being 72.9 kg.3. On the ergometer, V(O2) was a linear function of work rate; maximum values up to 5.1 l./min (74.4 ml./kg min) and work rates up to 425 W (2600 kg m/min) were observed.4. Data are presented on the relation of pedal frequency and speed in cycling, and on the relation of mechanical efficiency and pedal frequency, as determined on the ergometer.5. The estimated rolling resistance for four subjects was 0.71 kg f. The drag coefficient was 0.79 and the drag area 0.33 m(2). The values agreed well with results obtained by other methods.6. The energy expenditure (power developed) in cycling increased approximately as the square of the speed, and not as the cube of the speed as expected. This was explained by the varying contribution of rolling resistance and air resistance to over-all resistance to motion at different speeds.     

Energetic parameter changes with mechanical ventilation in conjunction with BVAD assistance

The aim was to assess the influence of a biventricular assist device (BVAD) on ventricular energetics parameters (external work, oxygen consumption, cardiac mechanical efficiency) for both ventricles, when mechanical ventilation was applied. The experiments were performed using a computer simulator of cardiovascular system (CARDIOSIM) after modelling a pathological state of the left ventricle (E(v)Left = 0. 9 mmHg cm(-3) and increasing pulmonary resistance (Rap = 0.3 mmHg cm(-3 s). The effect of mechanical ventilation was mean intrathoracic pressure changes from 0 to +5 mmHg. This simulation showed that application of BVAD for both ventricles reduces external work and that this effect is stressed by positive intrathoracic pressure, reduces cardiac mechanical efficiency that is quite insensitive to intrathoracic pressure and increases oxygen consumption, which is reduced by positive intrathoracic pressure. The increase of potential energy at the onset of BVAD evidences a rightwards shift of ventricular work cycle (unloading of the ventricles). In general, positive intrathoracic pressure during BVAD assistance adversely affects ventricular energetics.     

Mechanical work and efficiency in ergometer bicycling at aerobic and anaerobic thresholds

Internal and external mechanical work, energy consumption and mechanical efficiency were studied in constant-load ergometer bicycling at five different power outputs below, equal to, and above the aerobic (AerT) and anaerobic (AnT) thresholds. The gross, net and true efficiencies of the whole body in five male subjects were calculated. The work against the external load was defined as the external mechanical work. The internal mechanical work was calculated as the sum of the increments of kinetic and potential energy in all body segments by using methods of film analysis. Total energy consumption was measured by combining aerobic and anaerobic energy production. When the power output of the bicycle ergometer was increased from 146 +/- 15 to 283 +/- 17 W, oxygen consumption increased from 2.20 +/- 0.98 to 4.22 +/- 0.20 l min-1 (P less than 0.001), while the oxygen consumption at rest was 0.30 +/- 0.03 l min-1. The concentration of blood lactate increased from 2.2 +/- 0.4 at the lowest work load to 8.6 +/- 1.2 mmol l-1 at the highest work load (P less than 0.001). The amount of external work done per revolution increased from 139 +/- 20 to 277 +/- 29 J (P less than 0.001), while the amount of internal work per revolution remained almost constant (56 +/- 12 J). The gross efficiency in the present study was 17-20%, net efficiency 18-22% and true efficiency 21-30%, respectively. The highest gross and net efficiencies were reached at the AerT. The lowest efficiencies were obtained at highest work load.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Physical work capacity and daily physical activities of handicapped and non-handicapped children

Summary In this study physical work capacity, mechanical efficiency on the bicycle ergometer and daily physical activities were compared between 24 physically handicapped and 24 non-handicapped children. As a measure of mechanical efficiency and physical work capacity, the oxygen uptake per kg body weight at 0.5 watt·kg^–1 and oxygen uptake per kg body weight at a heart rate of 150 beats·min^–1 were used. The daily physical activities were recorded during a 24-h period by means of a scoring list. The load imposed by the daily physical activities was investigated by registration of heart rate.The mean value of the physical work capacity of the group of handicapped children was found to be lower compared with the non-handicapped children. The mechanical efficiency of 7 of the 24 handicapped children was lower when compared with the mechanical efficiency of 23 of the 24 non-handicapped children. A significant correlation between mechanical efficiency and nature of the handicap (spastic hemi-, di-, tetraplegic) was found (p<0.05). During light daily physical activities the handicapped children showed the same mean heart rate as the non-handicapped children, but the mean heart rate during heavy daily physical activities was lower for the handicapped group than for the non-handicapped group. The non-handicapped children spent more time in physical activities with relatively high heart rates.From the results obtained of oxygen uptake and heart rate measurements it is to be expected that non-handicapped children are able to maintain a higher state of training by means of their daily physical activities than are handicapped children.     

The influence of incline and speed on work rate, gross efficiency and kinematics of roller ski skating

During competitions, elite cross-country skiers produce higher external work rates on uphill than on flat terrain. However, it is not presently known whether this reflects solely higher energy expenditure. Furthermore, the kinematic factors associated with these higher rates of uphill work have not yet been examined. Therefore, in the present investigation the work rate and associated kinematic parameters at similar metabolic rates during roller ski skating on flat and uphill terrains have been compared. Seven elite male skiers performed six 5-min sub-maximal exercise bouts at the same low, moderate and high metabolic rates on 2 and 8% inclines, while roller skiing on a treadmill employing the G3 skating technique. The work rate was calculated as work against gravity and friction, whereas the energetic equivalent of VO(2) was taken as the metabolic rate. Gross efficiency was defined as work rate divided by metabolic rate. Kinematic parameters were analyzed in three dimensions. At the same metabolic rate, the work rate, cycle rate, work per cycle and relative duration of propulsive phases during a cycle of movement were all higher on the 8% than on the 2% incline at all speeds (all P?相似文献   

Metabolic cost and efficiency in two forms of squatting exercise in children and adults

These experiments investigated the oxygen consumption and work efficiency of adults and children performing identical movement patterns. Adult men (mean age 24) and male children (mean age 12) performed squatting exercises with and without a pause at the lowest point of the squat. The former were termed no rebound squats and the latter were termed rebound squats. Subjects performed the exercises without load and with loads equal to 5%, 10% and 15% of body mass.The results showed that the children consumed 10% more oxygen per unit total body mass than the adults. The gross efficiency of the adults was significantly greater than that of the children. Net and apparent efficiencies were not significantly different between the age groups. Gross and net efficiencies declined with load. Rebound squats required 13% less oxygen than no rebound squats. The gross, net and apparent efficiency of rebound squats was significantly greater than that of no rebound squats. It is suggested that the greater gross efficiencies of adults is related to their lower basal metabolic rate and that the greater efficiency of rebound exercise is related to the storage of energy in elastic tissues.     

Constant mechanical efficiency of contractile machinery of canine left ventricle under different loading and inotropic conditions

We have recently proposed that the total mechanical energy generated in each cardiac contraction can be quantified by the systolic pressure-volume area (PVA). PVA is the area in the pressure-volume (P-V) diagram that is circumscribed by the end-systolic and end-diastolic P-V relation curves and the systolic segment of the P-V trajectory. This area has dimensions of energy and comprises the external mechanical work and the elastic potential energy. In the left ventricle of cross-circulated canine hearts, we studied the relation between PVA and oxygen consumption per beat (VO2) above VO2 for mechanically unloaded contraction. We assumed that this excess VO2 is utilized for mechanical contraction by the contractile machinery. The percentage of PVA in the excess VO2, both in the same unit of energy, J, would then represent the efficiency of energy conversion from the excess VO2 to the total mechanical energy in the contractile machinery. We obtained this efficiency in variously loaded contractions in both control and enhanced contractile states with epinephrine and calcium. We found that the efficiency was constant at 30-50 (mean 40) % regardless of the changes in both loading conditions and contractile states. By this constant efficiency and a variable fraction of external work in PVA, we accounted for the load- and contractility-dependent variability of the conventional mechanical efficiency (0-30%) of the heart.     

Responses of pigeon horizontal semicircular canal afferent fibers. II. High-frequency mechanical stimulation

1. The horizontal semicircular canals of anesthetized (barbiturate/ketamine) pigeons were mechanically stimulated by the use of a piezoelectric micropusher that provided controlled indentation of the surgically exposed membranous horizontal semicircular duct. 2. Extracellular action potentials from single horizontal semicircular canal afferent (HCA) fibers were recorded during sinusoidal mechanical stimulation. This method of stimulation was shown in the companion paper to produce equivalent responses to those produced by rotation for frequencies ranging from 0.01 to 10 Hz. 3. Sinusoidal mechanical stimulation produced clearly entrained action potentials in some HCA fibers up to a frequency of 400 Hz (highest stimulus frequency tested), with stimulus probe displacements of +/- 1.0 and +/- 2.5 microns. Thirty-four HCA fibers were thoroughly studied. 4. For most HCA fibers, the number of action potentials per stimulus cycle decreased as stimulus frequency increased, until only one action potential per stimulus cycle was elicited. The point at which only one spike per stimulus cycle was observed was dependent on both the fiber's resting mean discharge rate (MDR) and the fiber's coefficient of variation (CV) obtained during the MDR. 5. Dynamic response properties of individual HCA fibers were found to be correlated with the fiber's CV and the resting level MDR. Neurons with lower CV values had less adaptation, higher short time constants, and lower high corner frequencies than did neurons with high CV values. For a given CV class of HCA fibers, neurons with higher MDRs had more enhanced gains and more advanced phase shifts at high stimulus frequencies than did neurons with lower MDRs. 6. Transfer function parameters affecting the dynamics of the high-frequency response were derived from the mean gain and phase shift values of regular-, intermediate-, and irregular-firing HCA fibers. Best-fit short time constant (tau S) values of 4.6, 1.9, and 2.0 ms; hair cell membrane time constant (tau M) values of 10.3, 13, and 7 ms; excitatory postsynaptic membrane time constant (tau E) values of 0.8, 0.4, and 0.5 ms; and synaptic delay time constant (tau D) values of 0.5, 0.5, and 1.4 ms were determined for regular, intermediate, and irregular classes of HCA fibers, respectively. 7. The values of 4.6, 1.9, and 2.0 ms derived for the regular, intermediate, and irregular afferents would suggest upper-corner frequencies of 35, 84, and 80 Hz for these classes of HCA fibers, respectively.     

Lower extremity mechanical work during stance phase of running partially explains interindividual variability of metabolic power

Recent attention given to the mechanical work of the lower extremity joints, the emerging importance of the stance phase of running, and the lack of consensus regarding the biomechanical correlates to economical running were primary justifications for this study. The purpose of this experiment was to identify the correlations between metabolic power and the positive and negative mechanical work at lower extremity joints during stance. Recreational runners (n = 16) ran on a treadmill at 3.35 m s⁻¹ for physiological measures and overground for biomechanical measures. Inverse dynamics were used to calculate net joint moments and powers at the ankle, knee, and hip. Joint powers were then integrated over the stance phase so that positive and negative joint mechanical work were correlated with metabolic power (r = 0.60–0.69). Positive work at the hip and ankle during stance was positively correlated to metabolic power. In addition to these results, more economical runners (lower metabolic power) exhibited greater negative work at the hip, greater positive work at the knee, and less negative work at the ankle. Between the most and least economical runners, different mechanical strategies were present at the hip and knee, whereas the kinetics of the ankle joint differed only in magnitude.     

Responses of pigeon horizontal semicircular canal afferent fibers. I. Step, trapezoid, and low-frequency sinusoid mechanical and rotational stimulation

1. The horizontal semicircular canals of anesthetized (barbiturate/ketamine) pigeons were stimulated by rotational and by mechanical stimulation. 2. The mechanical stimulation consisted of making a small (less than 1 mm) fistula in the lateral part of the bony horizontal semicircular canal and, after inserting a probe coupled to a piezoelectric micropusher through the fistula, providing controlled indentation of the exposed membranous horizontal semicircular duct. 3. Extracellular action potentials from single horizontal semicircular canal primary afferent (HCA) fibers were recorded during sinusoidal rotational and during step, ramp, and sinusoidal mechanical stimulation. 4. The mean spontaneous discharge rate of 160 horizontal canal afferents was 86 +/- 4 (SE) spikes/s. This rate was not significantly different from that reported previously for pigeon HCA fibers recorded with the horizontal canal intact (i.e., no fistula introduced). 5. Sinusoidal mechanical indentation of the horizontal semicircular duct produced clearly entrained action potentials on 36 HCA fibers for a range of peak displacements from +/- 0.5 to +/- 30 microns. Action potentials were never modulated on afferents (n greater than 100) identified as innervating the anterior and posterior semicircular canals or the otolith organs during mechanical stimulation of the horizontal semicircular canal, even for displacements as large as 30 microns. 6. Intensity functions relating peak firing frequency (spikes per second) and peak probe displacement (micrometers) for 1.0-Hz sinusoidal mechanical stimulation were linear over the range 1.0-5.0 microns. The most sensitive units (6/36, 17%) showed response saturation as the stimulus magnitude was extended to 7 microns and beyond. 7. In 15 of 36 units, both mechanical and rotational sinusoidal stimulation (1.0 Hz) were applied to the same unit. The duct indentation magnitudes were 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.0 microns and the rotational velocities were 5, 10, and 20 deg/s. The constant of proportionality found to equate the peak response produced by rotational to that elicited by mechanical stimulation was 7.0 deg.sec-1/1.0 microns. 8. Bode plots and best-fit transfer functions of the frequency response (0.05-10.0 Hz) of 14 HCAs exposed to both mechanical and rotational stimulation were nearly identical. 9. Parameters for best-fit transfer functions, responses to step, and trapezoidal duct displacements were in excellent agreement with previous rotational studies carried out using the pigeon. 10. Although the mechanisms by which focal identation of the horizontal membranous duct produce responses have not yet been determined, primary afferent responses using this method of stimulation are directly comparable with rotatory stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Mechanical power and efficiency in running children

The effect of age and body size on the total mechanical power output (Wtot) during running was studied in children of 3-12 years of age and in adults. Wtot was measured as the sum of the power required to move the body's centre-of-mass relative to the surroundings (the "external power", Wext) plus the power required to move the limbs relative to the body's centre-of-mass (the "internal power", Wint). At low and intermediate speeds (less than about 13 km h-1) the higher step frequency used by young children resulted in a decrease of up to 40-50% in the mass-specific external power and an equal increase in the mass-specific internal power relative to adults. Due to this crossed effect, the mass-specific Wtot is nearly independent of age. At high speeds the mass-specific Wtot is 20-30% larger in young children than in adults, due to a greater forward deceleration of the centre-of-mass at each step. The efficiency of positive work production, calculated as the positive mechanical power divided by the net energy consumption rate, appears to be similar in children and adults (i.e. 0.40-0.55).     

Evidence that brain nitric oxide inhibition increases metabolic cost of exercise, reducing running performance in rats

To assess the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the metabolic rate and running performance of rats submitted to exercise on a treadmill, 1.43 micromol (2 microL) of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, n=6), a NO synthase inhibitor, or 2 microL of 0.15M NaCl (SAL, n=6) was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle of male Wistar rats immediately before the animals started running (18m min(-1), 5% inclination). Oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured at rest, during the exercise until fatigue and thereafter during the 30 min of recovery using the indirect calorimetry system. Mechanical efficiency (ME) was also calculated during the running period. During the first 11 min of exercise, there was a similar increase in VO2 while ME remained the same in both groups. Thereafter, VO2 remained stable in the SAL group but continued to increase and remained higher in the L-NAME group until fatigue. The L-NAME-treated rats also showed a sharper decrease in ME than controls. In addition, there was a significant reduction in workload performance by L-NAME-treated animals compared to SAL-treated animals. This suggests that central blockage of nitric oxide increases metabolic cost during exercise, reduces mechanical efficiency and decreases running performance in rats.     

Influence of airways resistance on the nitrogen washout from the lung during forced rebreathing

The forced rebreathing method was used to determine the rate of change (apparent increase) of residual volume (RV) per breath in a group of 64 healthy non-smokers, 449 healthy smokers and 28 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The mean FEV(1)% FVC in the patients was 48.28% (SD= = 8.9%). The rate of breathing into the bag-bottle system was maintained at 28 breaths per minute for all subjects. An asymptote in the nitrogen washout curve was reached within 5 breaths in healthy subjects as compared to between 7-13 in patients with COPD. The mean apparent increase in RV average 11ml/breath, 15ml/breath and 18ml/breath in healthy non-smokers, smokers and patients with COPD respectively. The mean apparent increase in RV in healthy non-smokers approximated a normal resting oxygen consumption per minute. It was higher in healthy smokers and patients with COPD than in healthy non-smokers. It is concluded that because of a high airway resistance, the forced rebreathing increases the work of breathing in order to overcome resistance to gas flow in the airways. More energy is required and oxygen is removed from the bag-bottle system without a corresponding replacement with carbon dioxide. The volume of the bag-bottle system progressively decreases resulting in a high apparent increase in RV.     

A comparison of the effect of external loading upon power output in stair climbing and running up a ramp

Summary Previous studies have shown that external loading increases the power output measured during stair climbing. However, it was noted in an earlier study that stairtreads form mechanical contraints which limit the extent to which a subject can be externally loaded, and, thereby, make it impossible to observe maximal power output for this type of activity. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of external loading upon power output when running up stairs or a ramp. Since a ramp is free of the mechanical constraints of stairtreads, it was felt that higher power output values would be achieved using the ramp, and that it would be possible to observe an asymptote in power output which could not be obtained for stair climbing. Seven male subjects performed maximal ramp and stair climbing tests under five experimental loading conditions (no external load, 10.1, 19.2, 24.2, and 29.2 kg). For the ramp, it was possible to employ a sixth loading condition of 34.2 kg. For stair climbing, the mean (±SD) power output values under the five experimental conditions were 16.6±0.7, 17.3±1.3, 18.5±1.0, 18.6±1.5, and 18.9±1.7 W·kg^–1, respectively. In contrast, the mean (± SD) power output values observed while running up the ramp were 18.8±1.4, 19.9±1.6, 20.5±1.6, 20.1±2.1, 20.3±2.1, and 19.8±1.9 W·kg^–1, respectively. At each experimental condition, the differences between the ramp and stairs was significant (P<0.05). For the ramp, the highest mean power output occurred at a load of 19.2 kg. Beyond this load, power output progressively declined. In contrast, for the stairs, the highest power output occurred at a load of 29.2 kg. The results of this study demonstrate that the effect of loading upon power output measurements can be extended to running up a ramp. Furthermore, unlike stair climbing, it was possible using the ramp to observe a maximal power output value for each subject.     

Body composition, resting and running metabolic rates, and net cost of running in rats during starvation

Resting metabolic rate decreases during starvation. However, effects of starvation on the cost of running are not clear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 5 days starvation on body composition, resting metabolic rates, running metabolic rates, and net cost of running in male rats. Five days starvation resulted in reductions of 70% fat, 8% protein and 12% carbohydrates. Mass(-0.75) specific resting metabolic rate was significantly reduced from 3.69 +/- 0.27 to 2.73 +/- 0.17 W kg(-0.75) after 5 days starvation. The reduction in metabolic rate after 5 days starvation was maintained during running, in that running metabolic rate was reduced from 10.65 +/- 0.41 to 8.97 +/- 0.47 W kg(-0.75). The net costs of running were calculated and expressed as the costs of moving 1 kg a distance of 1 m. After 5 days of starvation it was reduced from 31.16 +/- 2.03-29.79 +/- 1.69 J m(-1) kg(-1). The reduction however was not significant. The present results therefore suggest that 5 days starvation resulted in a metabolic depression of the resting metabolic rate that was maintained during running. However, the net cost of running remained unchanged, suggesting that the muscle tissues are not significantly involved in the metabolic changes during starvation.