Energy Cost of Walking and Running

Abstract

Walking and running are the basic means of influencing an individual’s condition, his or her health and fitness. Due to the fact that various forms of physical load are used in movement training, the cause must be described by a single number, which reflects the volume, intensity, and form of physical load. One of the possibilities is to determine the energy cost (EC) of the applied physical activities. Possibilities of evaluation of EC in laboratory and field conditions using the speed of movement allow to streamline movement training. To achieve the desired lasting effect, it is necessary that the total EC exceeds the so-called stimulus threshold, that is, the subject of physical training must reach a certain minimum level of total EC of applied physical training. The total energy content of exercise allows you to design individual exercise programs. In the paper, we present the relationships between energy and speed of movement for the most commonly used physical activities to increase fitness in people without regular physical training–walking and running in different age groups and for men and women and the principles of design of movement interventions using this parameter, as well as the implemented programs and their effect.