Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess physiological demands of walking with or without poles in different speeds and slopes in aerobically trained women. Six women in average age 27, s = 1.0 years, body mass 56, s = 5 kg and height 164, s = 4 cm volunteered to the study.
The effect of using poles was evaluated on a treadmill in the speeds 4 km.h-1, 6 km.h-1 and slopes 0 % and 10 %. We have not found significant differences between using poles in oxygen consumption, heart rate and energy expenditure (only 3-17 % variance explained).
Significant differences were found in ventilation (VE) in higher speed and slope (30-48 % of variability in VE explained). We account these differences to the connection of ventilatory rhythm and upper limbs locomotor action.