Effects of gradient and load carried on human haemodynamic responses during treadmill walking

This study examined the effects of different loads carried and gradients, on haemodynamic and cardiovascular responses during 45 min of treadmill walking. A group of 20 male endurance-trained athletes [mean maximal oxygen uptake 61.4 (SD 4) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)] volunteered for this study. The subjects took part in three separate trials. The first involved a backpack weighing 25 kg, the second a 35 kg backpack, and the third trial, unladen, while walking on a treadmill at a speed of 5 km x h(-1). The subjects began walking on the treadmill with the randomized load at 0% gradient. After 15 min, the gradient was increased by 5% every 15 min for a total of 45 min. The order of the loads carried was randomized among subjects. No significant differences were noted for all the variables measured attributable to loads between 25 kg and 35 kg. However, significant (P<0.05) differences were seen for all variables each time the gradient was increased. Cardiac output increased from 11.4 (SD 0.6) 1 x min(-1) at 0% to 13.6 (SD 0.8) l x min(-1) at 5% and to 17.6 (SD 1.3) l x min(-1) at 10% carrying the 35 kg load. Similarly, lactic acid concentrations in the blood increased from 2.8 (SD 0.2) to 3.1 (SD 0.6) and to 5.3 (SD 1.3) mmol x l(-1), respectively. Similar changes were observed for all variables while carrying the 25 kg load. In addition, steady states in oxygen uptake and other physiological variables were obtained throughout the course of the tests. These data suggest that during isodynamic exercise, one of the main factors determining metabolic and haemodynamic responses will be the change in gradient and to a lesser extent, the mass of the load carried.