Abstract

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 s1 and 1.79 0.19 m s1 respectively(P < 0.001). Mean exercise intensities during thetreadmill test (n 11) were 59.0 13.4% VO2max and67.3 11.6% HRmax for the observed speed (1.60 0.24m s1). The brisk speed (1.86 0.12 m s1) equated to68.6 14.9% VO2max and 78.5 15.5% HRmax.Conclusion. The speed and intensity selected by thisgroup of walkers meets current recommendationsfor moderate intensity exercise. Instructing individualsto “walk briskly” prompts more vigorousactivity.