The oxygen requirement for horizontal and grade walking on a motor-driven treadmill

Oxygen uptake (VO2) was measured in males age 10-59 while they walked at 3 mph at various grades on a motor-driven treadmill. The number of subjects in each age group was as follows: age 10-11, N = 24; age 12-13, N = 46; age 14-15, N = 55; age 16-17, N = 53; age 18-19, N = 30; age 20-24, N = 56; age 25-29, N = 35; age 30-34, N = 32; age 35-39, N = 99; age 40-44, N = 106; age 45-49, N = 78; age 50-54, N = 42; and age 55-59, N = 11. Subjects walked at 3 mph at 0% grade for 3 min; thereafter, the treadmill was raised 3% every third minute with speed maintained. Oxygen uptake was measured continuously but only the values during the last minute at each grade were used in the present analysis. The subjects were in a "steady state," insofar as VO2 was concerned, by the second minute. These data were used to validate formulas for estimating VO2 in horizontal and grade walking published in Guidelines for Graded Exercise Testing and Exercise Prescription (1). The formulas are accurate for estimating the mean oxygen requirement in grade walking from 6-18% in adult males. In horizontal walking and walking at 3% grade, the formulas underestimate VO2 in all age groups. In boys under age 18, the formulas underestimate the energy requirement in walking at all grade levels.