Which variable is not directly used in the standard energy cost calculation for walking as described?

Which variable is not directly used in the standard energy cost calculation for walking as described?

• A. Oxygen consumption
• B. Gait speed
• C. Cadence
• D. Step Length

Answer: (C)

The standard way to express walking energy cost is as energy per distance, often called the cost of transport. This uses metabolic energy rate (oxygen consumption) and gait speed to get energy per meter: VO2 divided by speed. Cadence, or steps per minute, isn’t part of that calculation. It’s linked to speed through the relationship speed = cadence × step length, so cadence can influence speed indirectly, but it isn’t directly plugged into the energy-cost formula itself. Step length isn’t directly used in the basic cost calculation either, though it can help determine speed when cadence is known. So cadence is not directly used, making it the best choice.

The standard way to express walking energy cost is as energy per distance, often called the cost of transport. This uses metabolic energy rate (oxygen consumption) and gait speed to get energy per meter: VO2 divided by speed. Cadence, or steps per minute, isn’t part of that calculation. It’s linked to speed through the relationship speed = cadence × step length, so cadence can influence speed indirectly, but it isn’t directly plugged into the energy-cost formula itself. Step length isn’t directly used in the basic cost calculation either, though it can help determine speed when cadence is known. So cadence is not directly used, making it the best choice.