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European Journal of Applied Physiology
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 6/2011

01-06-2011 | Original Article

Variability of cardio-respiratory, electromyographic, and perceived exertion responses at the walk-run transition in a sample of young men controlled for anthropometric and fitness characteristics

Authors: Walace D. Monteiro, Paulo T. V. Farinatti, Carlos G. de Oliveira, Claudio Gil S. Araújo

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 6/2011

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Abstract

The cardio-respiratory (heart rate, HR; oxygen uptake, VO2; expired carbon dioxide, VCO2; ventilation, VE), electromyographic (EMG; medial gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis, rectus femoralis, and anterior tibialis), and perceived exertion (PE) responses during a protocol for the determination of the walk-run transition speed (WRTS) were investigated. From an initial sample of 453 volunteers, 12 subjects matched for age, anthropometric characteristics [height, weight, lower limb length (LLL)], cardio-respiratory fitness (peak oxygen consumption, VO2peak; ventilatory threshold, VT; maximal HR), and habitual physical activity levels were selected (age = 18.6 ± 0.5 years; height = 174.5 ± 1.4 cm; weight = 66.4 ± 1.1 kg; LLL = 83.3 ± 1.2 cm, VO2peak = 52.2 ± 2.2 ml kg−1 min−1; VT = 39.8 ± 2.6 ml kg−1 min−1). The highly reproducible WRTS determination protocol (ICC = 0.92; p < 0.0001) consisted in 2-min warm-up at 5.5 km h−1 followed by increments of 0.1 km h−1 every 15 s. Between-subjects variability of the measured variables during 24 walking and 12 running velocities (from 80 to 120% of WRTS) was compared to WRTS variation. The coefficient of variation for WRTS was 7.8%, which was within the range of variability for age, anthropometric variables, VO2peak, and maximal HR (from 5 to 12%). Cardio-respiratory responses at WRTS had a greater variation (VO2 about 50%; VE/VCO2 about 35%; VE/VO2 about 45%; HR about 30%). The highest variation was found for PE (from 70 to 90%) whereas EMG variables showed the lowest variation (from 25 to 30%). Linear regression between EMG series and VO2 data showed that VO2 reflected the increase in muscle activity only before the WRTS. These results support the hypothesis that the walk-run transition phenomenon is determined by mechanical variables such as limb length and its relationship to biomechanical model rather than by metabolic factors.
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Metadata
Title
Variability of cardio-respiratory, electromyographic, and perceived exertion responses at the walk-run transition in a sample of young men controlled for anthropometric and fitness characteristics
Authors
Walace D. Monteiro
Paulo T. V. Farinatti
Carlos G. de Oliveira
Claudio Gil S. Araújo
Publication date
01-06-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 6/2011
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1720-3

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