Walking slower than preferred speed increases metabolic cost due to time penalties and what else?

Walking slower than preferred speed increases metabolic cost due to time penalties and what else?

• A. Excessive running mechanics
• B. Reduced stance time only
• C. Disrupted momentum
• D. Increased flight phase

Answer: (C)

Walking at a slower-than-preferred speed makes you less efficient because it disrupts forward momentum and adds time penalties. At your preferred speed, the body's movement works like a smooth pendulum, transferring energy efficiently from one step to the next. When you slow down, that smooth transfer is broken: you spend more time in stance, and you must repeatedly brake and re-accelerate to push yourself forward. This extra braking and re-acceleration costs more energy per distance, raising metabolic cost. Also, there is no flight phase in walking, so increased flight phase isn’t a factor here. Excessive running mechanics don’t apply to slow walking, and reduced stance time would contradict what actually happens as speed drops.

Walking at a slower-than-preferred speed makes you less efficient because it disrupts forward momentum and adds time penalties. At your preferred speed, the body's movement works like a smooth pendulum, transferring energy efficiently from one step to the next. When you slow down, that smooth transfer is broken: you spend more time in stance, and you must repeatedly brake and re-accelerate to push yourself forward. This extra braking and re-acceleration costs more energy per distance, raising metabolic cost. Also, there is no flight phase in walking, so increased flight phase isn’t a factor here. Excessive running mechanics don’t apply to slow walking, and reduced stance time would contradict what actually happens as speed drops.