Physiological and perception responses comparison during treadmill walking at self-selected pace between genders | [Comparação das respostas fisiológicas e perceptuais obtidas durante caminhada na esteira em ritmo autosselecionado entre os sexos]

The aim of this study was to compare physiological and perception responses between genders during treadmill walking at self-selected pace. 17 men and 17 women aged 23.32 ± 3.06 yr were investigated: (I) anthropometric assessment and incremental exhaustion test, (II) a 20-minute walking bout on treadmill at their self-selected pace. The independent t test was utilized to verify any gender differences, with a level of p < 0.05. The self-selected walking pace was significantly greater in men than women (1.65 ± 0.18 and 1.50 ± 0.12 m.sec-1, respectively), and consequently resulted in higher absolute VO2 for men compared to women (21.2 ± 5.5 and 18.3 ± 2.7, respectively). However, both genders self-selected a similar relative exercise intensity %VO2max (37.5 ± 10.7 and 40.3 ± 7.2 for men and women, respectively). The subjective perceived exertion (SPE) did not differ between genders (10.2 ± 1.0 and 9.8 ± 1.2 for men and women, respectively). The results of the present study demonstrated that regardless of gender, physically active young adults self-selected a similar relative exercise intensity that reflected in similar SPE. Furthermore, gait at self-selected intensity was insufficient to improve cardio-respiratory fitness in this sample.