PHYSICAL CONDITIONING OF SEDENTARY YOUNG MEN WITH ANKLE WEIGHTS DURING WORKING HOURS

An intact work crew of 9 weather observers (ages 19-32 yr) wore weighted ankle spats for 20 continuous days for 7.5-7.9 h each day on the job while performing normal duties and for an equal amount of time on days off. Four observers continued wear for another 20 days. Weights on each ankle were 2.25 kg for 2 days and 3.0 kg thereafter. O2 uptake (.ovrhdot.VO2) and heart rate (HR) were determined before and after conditioning at 6 submaximal work loads; level walking at 1.12 and 1.56 m s-1, with and without ankle weights, and ergometer cycling at 2 work loads selected to elicit final HR near 150 and 180 beat min-1. Submaximal HR declined and predicted aerobic power at HR = 180 (PAP180) increased throughout the conditioning period, but significance was reached only after 6 wk (mean HR decrease = 18 beat min-1, P < 0.05; mean PAP180 increase = 0.15 mmol min-1 kg-1, P < 0.05). After 3 wk without weights, both improvements partially decayed. .ovrhdot.VO2 and HR were obtained on the job from 3 subjects who had trained for 6 wk. Although HR increased an average of 12 beat min-1 when ankle weights were worn, the observed cardiovascular training stimulus remained quite low, averaging 98 beat min-1. This on-the-job conditioning method appears useful to sedentary individuals as a preliminary to more strenuous activity.