A team of pathophysiologists at the University of Milan has found that climbing stairs or walking for short bursts allows people to consume 20% to 60% more energy than if they do the same activity nonstop for the same distance. In their study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group asked volunteers to walk on a treadmill or climb stairs while also monitoring their oxygen intake.

Super interesting and makes a lot of sense in retrospect.

  • Th3D3k0y@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    9 hours ago

    I was talking to my wife about them and thought to my old backpacking trips. I’d get really tired and want to take a break, but I know that if I sit down starting up again will be worse, so I’d just do a little pacing.

    I wonder what the participants did in between cycles and how much that impacts. Sit, lay down, stand, levitate? Does the start and stop degree change the result? Like if I go from laying down to sprinting for 30 seconds and repeat.