Ergonomic Responses to Aerobic Steady-State Walking and Running Performance in Children

Previous research has failed to determine the metabolic responses of children to steady-state exercise. The purposes of this study were to determine: 1) the relationship between submaximal exercise heart rate and perceived exertion scales in children, 2) the influence of running speed and other physiological variables such as body composition, body weight, age, and gender on the achievement of an aerobic steady-state running performance in children, and 3) the relationship between steady-state oxygen uptake and walking or running speeds in children. Subjects were 56 boys and 47 girls enrolled in a 5th and 6th grade elementary physical education class. Subjects’ performed a submaximal treadmill test consisting of a walking and a running stage. Heart rate was measured through a telemetry system. Oxygen uptake was measured by standard techniques of open-circuit spirometry. Following each stage of the exercise test, subjects rated their perceived exertion (RPE) for that stage. A steady-state performance was determined by stable heart rate (+ 5 b-min-'), VCOs and VO» values (+ 10%). A multiple regression model was developed to determine the sources of variation in exercise heart rate based on RPE. Although a linear relationship was detected between exercise heart rate and RPE while walking (F147g=7.7, p<.05), there was no relationship detected between these variables while running (F411479=0.1, p>.05). Gender (Fy 1479=9.5, p<.05), age (F1.177=7.7, p<.05), body weight (F1177=8.8, p<.05), body mass index (F1.179=12.3, p<.05), and sum of triceps and medial calf skinfold fat (F1.17g=8.8, p<.05) accounted for significant additional variation in exercise heart rate after RPE walking and running were considered. In the second stage of the analysis, a logistic regression model revealed that running speed (y24=11.6, p<.05), sum of two-site skinfold fat (y21=13.7, p<.05), and gender (y24=10.6, p<.05) each contributed separately to the achievement of an aerobic steady-state running performance. As running speed or as skifold fat increase, the probability of achieving an aerobic steady-state performance decreases. Also, boys are more likely to achieve an aerobic steady-state running performance than girls for any running speed or skinfold fat value. In the third stage of the analysis, a multiple regression model revealed that the relationship between oxygen uptake and speed of movement in children is linear (Fy 1901=544.6, p<.05, R=.92, SEE=4.54 ml-kg"t-min-'). The inclusion of a quadratic term for the walking observations accounted for significant additional variation in VO2 (Fy 99=7.4, p<.05), indicating that the relationship between walking speed and VOo in children is curvilinear (R = .93, SEE = 4.42 ml-kg '-min-1), while that relationship for running speed is linear. These data suggest that there is a moderate correlation between exercise heart rate and RPE in children, but gender, age, body weight, body mass index, and skinfold fat can be considered sources of additional variation in exercise heart rate in addition to RPE. These data also suggest that skinfold fat and gender affect the achievement of an aerobic steady-state performance in children in addition to running speed. Lastly, these data suggest that the relationship between oxygen uptake and walking speed in children is curvilinear, but that relationship for running speed its linear.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health, P.E., and Recreation

Grantor

Southwest Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Neal, Michael Anthony, Jr.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Walker, John L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Patton, Robert E.
• Murray, Tinker Dan

• children
• walking
• running
• physiology
• physical fitness

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/20797

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/20797