Trekking Poles Increase Physiological Responses to Hiking Without Increased Perceived Exertion

Abstract

Trekking poles are used by hikers for improved stability and lowered leg fatigue due to increased upper body muscle involvement. However, the weight of the poles and exaggerated upper body movement when using poles may increase total energy expenditure at a given walking speed. Few studies have investigated the physiological responses of hiking with trekking poles outside the laboratory setting. The purposes of this study were to determine if trekking poles altered physiological responses to hiking on varied terrain, and whether responses between trials were dependent on the grade of the terrain. Fourteen recreational hikers completed four hiking trials over a course that included sustained sections of flat (0 +/- 1% grade), steep uphill (>10% grade), gradual uphill (5% grade), gradual downhill (-5% grade) and steep downhill (<-10% grade) terrain. Subjects walked at a self-selected speed that was matched across trials using time-splits and a metronome. Two trials were conducted with hiking poles and two without poles. [latin capital V with dot above]O2 was significantly elevated (p <0.05) during the pole trials (1502.9 +/- 510.7 ml/min) compared to the no-pole trials (1362.4 +/- 473.2 ml/min). Similarly, ventilatory efficiency ([latin capital V with dot above]E) (43.1 +/- 9.6; 38.3 +/- 10.1 L/min) and heart rate (HR) (112.1 +/- 9.7; 105.7 +/- 10.4 bt/min) were significantly higher during the pole trials than the no-pole trials. However, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) was not altered by pole condition (8.5 +/- 0.7; 8.4 +/- 0.8). Comparisons within each grade revealed significantly higher physiological responses for [latin capital V with dot above]O2, [latin capital V with dot above]E and HR in the pole-condition at all grades, with no significant variable*grade interactions. RPE measures were not significantly different between pole trials at any grade. These data suggest that trekking poles may be a beneficial tool for increasing caloric expenditure, as energy production increased during exercise without increased perceptions of effort.

A Comparison of the Degree of Perceived Exertion by Participants In Nordic Walking and Level Walking at Equal Levels of Relative Exercise Intensity

“…3,9 However, the whole-body OMNI scale did not show a difference between the two conditions in the present study. The experimental speed in the present study was equivalent to approximately 90-110 m/min.…”

“…1 Many studies have reported that a difference between NW and normal level walk-ing (LW) is the energy expenditure involved. [2][3][4][5][6][7] ; when NW and LW are conducted at a certain speed, oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) and heart rate (HR) are higher in NW. The researchers conducting these studies concluded that the reason for this difference is that NW involves many muscles of the upper limbs.…”

Intensity of Nordic Walking in young females with different peak O2 consumption

“…In our study, during maximal speed Nordic Walking the Borg RPE was very low in every group (see Table 3) as on recent study by Schiffer et al (2009) in experienced Nordic Walkers. Saunders et al (2008) found that trekking poles increase physiological responses to hiking without increased perceived exertion. The relationship between Borg RPE with VO 2 and HR was not significant (P>0AE05).…”

Effects of Backpack Load and Trekking Poles on Energy Expenditure During Field Track Walking

“…The increased cardiovascular demand was likely to support the greater muscular activity in the upper extremities, as was observed in the triceps brachii. In contrast, some studies 32 34 report increments in the subject’s EE when using trekking poles during walking. Porcari et al 31 and Saunders et al 32 suggest that the increase of HR, VO 2 and EE with the use of trekking poles is due to additional involvement of upper body muscle groups.…”

“…The use of trekking poles is relatively recent among those who pursue competitive walking and mountain walking, but during the last decade poles are used more and more for walking on field tracks 6 10 16 . Some of the benefits that have been cited in favor of the use of trekking poles are impact reduction 4 19 , walking instability reduction and fatigue reduction while walking with load carriage 21 28 32 . However, most of the studies performed until now 5 17 18 20 34 have analyzed walking under laboratory conditions and hence lack results that may help in understanding the effects of trekking pole use in load carriage while walking in field conditions.…”