[at-l] hiking poles' efficiency...

[spiriteagle99 at hotmail.com (Jim and/or Ginny Owen)]

>I think Sloetoe has a made good point here. If the only difference between 
>walking up a hill with poles and without poles (i.e. same person, same pack 
>weight, etc.) then the only difference in the actual work done is carrying 
>the extra weight of the poles. The mechanics of using your arms to assist 
>your legs may make it seem easier but like lifting a weight with a block 
>and tackle instead of just picking it up, the actual "work" accomplished is 
>the same. It's just distributed differently.

In the strictly mechanical sense - yes.  In the biomechanical sense - no.

What he's saying is that "work" is only defined by, for example, climbing a 
hill.  What he's missing is that he should be talking about "energy" - not 
work.

Without getting technical - what's being overlooked here is that many 
"walkers" (see some of the "walking magazines")  do their thing in malls.  
Flat - no hills - therefore, by Toey's definition - no work.  but lots of 
energy expenditure.  And the concentrated expenditure of biomechanical 
energy is, by definition, "exercise."  And exercise is what makes Toey fit 
and trim.  (and he is - or at least, was, the last time I saw him).  <G>

A walker who swings their arms - with or without weights - expends more 
biomechanical energy than one who doesn't.  That's basic "walking" 
knowledge.

Don't even have to walk to see the effect - just stand still with a one 
pound weight in your hand and push your hand out and back (as if you were 
punching someone) 100 or 200 times.  Then come back and tell me you're not 
expending energy.  No "work" involved at all - at least not in the 
mechanical sense.   But if you do that every day for a year - how much will 
you build up the muscle groups that are used in that motion?  It may not be 
"work" - but it IS exercise - and it DOES burn calories.  <G>

How many calories?  Hmm - that's where the "measurements" become 
"estimates."

Walk softly - and swing those arms,
Jim

_________________________________________________________________
Compare high-speed Internet plans, starting at $26.95.  
https://broadband.msn.com (Prices may vary by service area.)