A FIELD-TEST COMPARISON OF HIKING STICK USE ON HEART-RATE AND RATING OF PERCEIVED EXERTION

The purpose of this study was to compare heartrate carrying a load and rating of perceived exertion with and without hiking sticks while asc ending and descending a slope. 11 novice, moderately fit volunteers, a ges 18 to 21 years (M=19.3 yr.) completed two alternate 50-meter, uphi ll and downhill hikes on a 40 degrees slope during randomly ordered tr ials with and without fitted hiking sticks and backpacks (15 kg). Pair ed t test comparisons for 4 trials indicated that mean heartrate was s ignificant ly lower only following the first ascent by those using hik ing sticks than those without sticks. Rating of perceived exertion als o was significantly lower (p<.05) for those using hiking sticks. Perha ps heartrate may be lower at the onset of climbing using hiking sticks , but as the duration the hike is extended, heartrates become comparab le, presumably due to the transfer of energy utilization from the legs to the upper body.