Physiological and Psychological Differences Between 20% Grade Incline Walking and Level-Grade Jogging at Isocaloric
Motoki Sato1, Taj Krieger1, Alexis D Gidley2,3
1Department of Kinesiology, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Arcata, CA, USA.
International Journal of Exercise Science
|January 14, 2025
Summary
High-incline walking and level-grade jogging offer similar physiological benefits at matched intensities. However, young adults found level-grade jogging more enjoyable and preferable to high-incline walking.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- High-incline walking (HIW) is an emerging exercise modality with limited comparative data.
- Understanding its physiological and psychological effects relative to traditional exercises is crucial for public health recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare physiological and psychological responses between high-incline walking (HIW) and level-grade jogging (LGJ) at isocaloric intensities in young adults.
- To assess exercise enjoyment and preference between the two modalities.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-two young adults (19-31 years) completed 20-minute treadmill sessions of HIW (20% grade) and LGJ.
- Sessions were matched for isocaloric energy expenditure.
- Physiological measures included gas exchange and heart rate.
- Psychological measures included Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Feeling Scale (FS), Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), and Likelihood to repeat.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in relative oxygen uptake, total calories burned, Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER), or heart rate between HIW and LGJ.
- Level-grade jogging (LGJ) yielded significantly higher Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) and Likelihood scores compared to high-incline walking (HIW).
- RPE increased significantly over time for both conditions, while the Feeling Scale (FS) showed significant improvement between sessions, not within sessions.
Conclusions:
- At isocaloric intensities, HIW and LGJ elicit comparable physiological demands in young adults.
- Young adults report greater enjoyment and preference for LGJ over HIW.
- HIW may be a viable alternative for achieving similar physiological outcomes, but psychological factors like enjoyment may favor LGJ.
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