<![CDATA[Aim and Objective: Compare the physiological responses within bouts of aerobic exercise varying inintensity and the presence of wearable weights.Study Design: Interventional studySettings: Exercise Physiology Lab at the department of Physiology, JNMC, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha.Method and Material: Forty (18 females, 22 males, mean age = 22.23 ± 1.32) healthy volunteers weretested for aerobic fitness on a treadmill to determine VO2. Participants completed eight 30-minute walkingtrials on a treadmill and oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were monitored while walkingat different speeds and with varying combination of upper and lower body external weights. The designincluded two intensities (slow walking and brisk walking) and four conditions (no weights, arm weights, legweights, and arm and leg weights) for a total of eight experimental trials.Statistical Analysis Used: ANOVA and pair-wise comparisons on SPSS software version 24.Results: VO2 was significantly lower without the wearable weights in comparison to wearing both upperand lower weights in the slow walk trial (P < 0.001; ES = 0.74) and also during the brisk walk trial (P <0.001; ES = 0.35). HR was significantly higher during the brisk walk trials with external weights on both thearms and legs (P=0.018, ES=0.37).Conclusions: Findings suggest that the metabolic responses were significantly increased wearing externalweights on both the arm and leg during walking exercise on treadmill and increasing energy expenditure(burning additional calories) over the 30 minute session and have minimal impact on heart rate.]]>
