Muscular Efficiency during Treadmill Walking: The Effects of Age and Workload

Changes in muscular efficiency as it relates to age were examined during inclined submaximal treadmill walking in 298 boys ages 7-15 years. Furthermore, the changes in efficiency with increased work intensity (67-90% V̇O₂max) were studied. Efficiency was expressed as submaximal oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) and was calculated mathematically as energy out/energy in = (vertical distance) (wt of subject)/(V̇O₂ L • min^-1) (kcal equivalent). Efficiency, calculated mathematically, was found to significantly increase (p<.01) with age, with the younger children (<9 yrs) being less efficient than the older children (13-15 yrs). These values ranged from 12.8% for the youngest boys (<9 yrs) to 16.4% for the oldest boys (13-15 yrs). In addition, efficiency significantly increased in a linear fashion (p<.01) during submaximal workloads within each age group. No significant interactions (p>.05) between age and workload were found. These values are lower than gross efficiency values during cycling previously reported in the literature for adults; however, they support earlier findings that children increase in efficiency with age and work intensity, regardless if expressed as efficiency or V̇O₂ (ml • kg^-1 •min^-1). These findings suggest that parameters associated with growth and development may influence muscular efficiency with age.