Performance Aspects of the Workaday Routine Stair Climbing

Völker K, Balvin S, Fromme A, Mooren FCh, Thorwesten L

Abstract

Public health concepts recommend beside sports workaday routines like stair climbing for prevention of cardiovascular diseases.The present study investigated the individually chosen performance levels during stair climbing. Without being asked 218 volunteers at the age of 10 to 70 were observed when climbing a stair (height 4.6 m, 49 stairs ) within the city house of Münster and their climbing time was measured. After that anthropometric and anamnestic data together with an RPE value were determined. At a climbing time of 13.9 s men's mean performance of 291.3 watt was higher than women's mean performance of 214.8 watt ( climbing time 15.2 s). Athletes climbed about 0.5 to 1 s faster which corresponded to an additional performance of 40 watts for male volunteers. Gender-independent climbing time and performance decreased about 1 s and 20 watt, respectively, above an age of 45. Body weight, nicotine abuse and the kind of profession had no influence. The physical strain was classified between very easy and easy corresponding to RPE values of 9 - 11. Depending on performance time and intensity stair climbing is an anaerobic effort producing no or only small amounts of lactate. The energy turnover is without consequences for prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, stair climbing is an indicator of an active live style.