Comparison of Heart Rate, Ventilation, Maximal Oxygen Uptake, Lactate Level, and Recovery Rate During Two Types of Walking Graded Exercise Testing in Elite Race Walkers

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify a sport-specific assessment for elite race walking athletes by comparing physiological responses to different types of walking graded exercise test (GTX) protocols.METHODS Six elite race walking athletes completed two types of walking protocols in a randomized crossover design with 1 week of interval between trials. Exercise time, oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilation (VE), and heart rate (HR) were measured in each trial; the lactate level was measured during the recovery period.RESULTS VO2, VE, and HR differed significantly between the trials (p<.01~.05). Exercise time (p<.01) and VO2 (p<.05) differed significantly between the walking protocols; however, VE and HR did not differ significantly. During the recovery period, lactate levels differed significantly between the trials (p<.01), but not the walking protocol.CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that modified walking GXT protocols were appropriate to assess elite race walking athletes.