Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-2001

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Human Performance and Sport

Major Professor

David R. Bassett Jr.

Committee Members

Dixie L. Thompson, Edward T. Howley

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of the FitSense FS-1 Speedometer for estimating distance, speed, and energy expenditure while walking and running at different speeds and grades. The study was divided into three experiments. Experiment I investigated the accuracy of the FitSense for estimating distance while walking and running at self-selected speeds during repeated 1600 m tests. Experiment II investigated the accuracy of the FitSense for estimating speed (vs. a handheld digital tachometer) and energy expenditure (vs. indirect calorimetry) during treadmill walking (3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 miles • hr-1) and running (5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 miles • hr-1) on a level grade. Experiment III investigated the accuracy of the FitSense for estimating energy expenditure (vs. indirect calorimetry) during treadmill walking with an increasing grade (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0%). Twenty-four subjects (15 male, 9 female) volunteered for Experiment I. A subset of 12 subjects (7 male, 5 female) also volunteered for Experiments II and III. For Experiment I, one-sample t-tests revealed no significant difference between actual distance and the distance estimated by the FitSense during the walking tests. A significant difference was found for distance while running (p = 0.016). During Experiment II, a significant difference was found for speed while walking on a level grade. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons found significant stage differences between 3.0 and 5.0 miles • hr-1 and 4.0 and 5.0 miles • hr-1. Paired t-tests found no significant differences between the estimated and measured speed for walking speeds of 3.0 and 4.0 miles • hr-1 or for running speeds of 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 miles • hr-1. A significant difference between measured and estimated speed was found while walking at 5.0 miles • hr-1 (p < 0.001). A repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated significant differences for energy expenditure while walking on a level grade. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences between each stage while walking. Paired t-tests also found significant differences between measured and estimated energy expenditure while walking at 4.0 and 5.0 miles • hr-1,/sup>. No significant differences were found for energy expenditure while running. In Experiment III, a significant difference was found for energy expenditure while walking with an increasing grade. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences between each grade. Paired t-tests also found significant differences between measured and estimated energy expenditure for each grade. In conclusion, the FitSense FS-1 Speedometer is an accurate tool for estimating distance while walking and running and for estimating speed while walking at 3.0 and 4.0 miles • hr-1 and running at 6.0 and 7.0 miles • hr-1 on a level grade. However, the FitSense underestimates energy expenditure while walking and running on a level grade and with an increasing grade.

Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS