Speed and Exercise Intensity of Recreational Walkers

Background. Brisk walking has been identified as anactivity suited to meet American College of SportMedicine/Centers for Disease Control and Preventionrecommendations for moderate intensity exercise (55–69% HRmax, 40–59% VO2R). However, little is knownabout whether recreational walkers self-select a pacewhich elicits this intensity and how they interpret theterm “brisk walking.”Methods. The walking speed of 82 adults was covertlyobserved in a public park. Fifty-nine of theseparticipants demonstrated their interpretation of“brisk walking” and the speed was noted. Eleven ofthese subjects subsequently walked on a treadmill attheir observed and “brisk walk” speeds. Heart rate(HR), respiratory gases, and ratings of perceived exertion(RPE) were measured.Results. Mean observed and “brisk” walking speedswere 1.56 � 0.17 m � s�1 and 1.79 � 0.19 m � s�1 respectively(P