When military strategists plan a mission, one of many factors is the toll it takes on the Army’s foot soldiers. A long march and heavy load drains energy. So military strategists are often concerned with the calories a soldier will burn, and the effect of metabolic stress on their overall physiological status, including body temperature, fuel needs and fatigue.
Now scientists at SMU have discovered a new, more accurate way to predict how much energy a soldier uses walking.
The method was developed with funding from the U.S. military. It significantly improves on two existing standards currently in use, and relies on just three readily available variables.
An accurate quantitative assessment tool is important because the rate at which people burn calories while walking can vary tenfold depending on how fast they walk, if they carry a load, and whether the walk is uphill, downhill or level.
“Our new method improves on the accuracy of the two leading standards that have been in use for nearly 50 years,” said exercise physiologist Lindsay W. Ludlow, an SMU post-doctoral fellow and lead author on the study. “Our model is fairly simple and improves predictions.”
Read more at SMU Research.
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Walking mechanics factor into military mission success
SMU scientists have discovered a simple, more accurate method of predicting how much energy humans expend while walking. The new theory improves on two existing standards and is particularly important to military strategists who must factor in the toll long marches and heavy loads take on foot soldiers when planning missions.