Researchers in Amherst, Massachusetts, have found that altering one’s walking stride could potentially help in burning more calories than sticking to a consistent step size. The study, which involved tracking the movements of 18 healthy adults, revealed that increasing variability in step length by just one percent resulted in a 0.7 percent increase in energy expended.
Although the study did not measure the exact number of calories burned, study co-author Adam Grimmitt, an expert in exercise physiology, suggested that more frequent and larger variations in stride length could potentially boost metabolic rates during walking. The volunteers, with an average age of 24 and weight of 70.5kg, were asked to walk normally on a treadmill for five minutes while their stride length was recorded.
During a second walk on the treadmill, participants were prompted to vary their stride lengths by up to five and 10 percent shorter or longer than their average stride. All volunteers were equipped with a mouthpiece to measure carbon dioxide production, showcasing an increase during physical activity. The findings, published on the pre-print website bioRxiv, indicated that maintaining stability while transitioning from a short to a long step increased muscular contraction and metabolic cost.
The research also suggested that older adults, particularly those with neurological conditions, could benefit from increased step length variability during walking. While the study demonstrated promising results, participants experienced difficulty in maintaining accuracy when changing their stride lengths without additional feedback. Researchers acknowledged the limitations of the study, emphasizing the need for future research to delve into foot placement accuracy and muscle activity across various walking conditions.
The study’s findings offer a new perspective on the impact of step length variability on the metabolic cost of walking. By highlighting the potential benefits of altering one’s walking stride, the research opens up possibilities for improved fitness routines and outcomes. Further exploration into the practical implications and real-world application of these findings could lead to tailored exercise recommendations for individuals looking to optimize their calorie burning during walking.