| Abstract |
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of stair climbing exercise with body-weight-proportional load
on the heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) in healthy young adults.
Methods: Thirty-five participants in their 20s performed a stair climbing task to the fifth floor under two conditions: (1)
without load and (2) with an additional load equivalent to 20% of their body weight. The HR, RR, and RPE of participants
were measured at rest and immediately after each condition. The HR and RR were analyzed using repeated measures
analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests. Meanwhile, the RPE was analyzed using the Friedman test and
Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for post hoc comparison. Results: All measured variables (HR, RR, and RPE) showed
statistically significant increases with added load (p<.001). In particular, the 20% load condition resulted in an average RPE
of 17 (“very hard”), and the HR reached approximately 80% of the estimated maximal HR, indicating a vigorous intensity
level. Conclusion: The stair climbing task to the fifth floor at maximum speed significantly elevated the HR and RR,
indicating its potential as an effective aerobic exercise intervention for physically inactive adults. These findings support
its classification as a high-intensity aerobic exercise and highlight its applicability in individualized exercise intensity
prescription. |