Abstract |
Purpose : This study aims to examine the effect of treadmill slope and knee flexion angle on lung function while walking
on the treadmill. Methods : A total of 15 healthy female students attending S university in B city were enrolled in this
study. A gas analyzer (K4b2, COSMED, Italy) was used to measure the lung function. Using a knee brace that could limit
movement, the knee flexion angles were set to 0˚, 15˚, 30˚, and 45˚. The treadmill slope (h/p/Cosmos, Proxomed,
Germany) was set at 0%, 5%, and 10%. The items of lung functions included respiratory frequency (RF), tidal volume (VT),
minute ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO2), and carbon dioxide output (VCO2). The speed of treadmill was 4.3
km/h. The measurement time was 5 minutes for each session. However, only the values of measurement for 3 minutes
excluding the first one minute and the last one minute during walking were used for analysis. Results : In this study,
the results showed that RF increased as the treadmill slope increased at knee flexion of 0° (p < 0.05), 15° (p < 0.05), and
30° (p < 0.05). However, depending on the increase in knee flexion limitation at treadmill slopes of 0%, 5%, and 10%, VT,
VE, VO2, and VCO2 were not changed. Also, based on the increase in knee flexion limitation at treadmill slopes of 0% (p
< 0.05) and 5% (p < 0.05), RF increased. But there was no significant difference at 10% of slope. VT increased as the
treadmill slope increased at knee flexion of 30° (p < 0.05) and 45° (p < 0.05). VE, VO2, and VCO2 increased as the treadmill
slope increased at knee flexion of 0° (p < 0.05), 15° (p < 0.05), 30° (p < 0.05), and 45° (p < 0.05). Conclusion : In
conclusion, the treadmill slope was found to have a greater effect on lung function than that of the knee flexion angle. |