Cardiorespiratory strain during walking in snow with boots of differing weights

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Abstract
In order to assess the physiological strain of different boot weights, seven male and three female subjects walked on a treadmill and a snow-field while wearing three types of boots: winter jogging boots (WJB), rubber boots (RB), and rubber safety boots (RSB), weighing (x¯±s.d.) 0·9 ±0·1, 1·9 ±0·4 and 2·5 ±0·2 kg, respectively. During each walk the subjects wore the same clothing ensembles and moved at the same, individually determined speed. The mean (±s.e.) depths of the footprint impression in the snow while walking in the WJB, RB, and RSB were 26·1 ±1·5, 25·6 ± 1·4 and 26·1 ± 15 cm (NS), respectively. During walking on the treadmill, the means for oxygen consumption were 0·79 ± 0·05,0·81 ± 0·06 and 0·83 ±0·041 min-1(NS) and in snow 2·24±0·18, 2·34 ±0·17 and 2·34 ±0·191 min-1(p−1(/p 0·05) on the treadmill, and 151±11; 150±11 and 151± 12 beats min−1(NS) in snow. No significant differences in ratings of perceived exertion were observed between the walking tests in snow with the three types of boots. In accordance with earlier studies, walking in snow was found to be strenuous work. In conclusion, the use of the RSB is recommended during logging work in snow, since they are known to provide greater protection than lighter boots and the increase in physiological strain experienced with RSB in this study was not appreciably greater than that with boots of lighter weight.