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ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6027-1732

Access Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

thesis

Degree Program

Kinesiology

Degree Type

Master of Science (M.S.)

Year Degree Awarded

2019

Month Degree Awarded

May

Abstract

The ACSM Metabolic Equation is a widely recognized equation for predicting metabolic intensity from walking speed. However, an equation that uses an observable metric (i.e., cadence [steps/min]), accounts for individual characteristics, and is validated across walking conditions may enable more accessible and accurate predictions of walking intensity. PURPOSE: To develop metabolic equations that predict metabolic intensity (oxygen consumption; mL/kg/min) from cadence using a large treadmill walking dataset (Study One) and cross-validate these equations during overground unconstrained and cadence-constrained walking conditions (Study Two). METHODS: In Study One, 193 adults (21-81 years) completed treadmill walking bouts while oxygen consumption was measured with indirect calorimetry (converted to metabolic equivalents [METs]; 1 MET=3.5 mL/kg/min=1 kcal/kg/min). Directly-observed step counts divided by bout duration produced cadence. The least squares regression of the cadence-intensity relationship produced a simple equation and a full equation was developed using best subsets regression (additional possible predictors of leg length, body mass, BMI, percent body fat, sex, and age). Predictive accuracy and bias of each cadence-based metabolic equation and the ACSM Metabolic Equation was evaluated through k-fold cross-validation. In Study Two, these three metabolic equations were applied to data collected from 20 young adults during overground walking at self-selected paces (unconstrained) and with foot-strikes entrained to music tempos (cadence-constrained). RESULTS: In Study One, the simple equation predicted walking intensity within 0.5 METs, on average, and approximately no bias (CONCLUSIONS: The simple equation performed comparably to the full equation (which accounted for individual characteristics) and appreciably better than the ACSM Metabolic Equation. The simple cadence-based metabolic equation is an improved, user-friendly tool for predicting and prescribing walking intensity with reasonable accuracy (within ~0.5 METs; 45 kcals/hr for the average American).

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/13986840

First Advisor

Catrine Tudor-Locke

Second Advisor

John R. Sirard

Third Advisor

Richard Van Emmerik

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