The Effect of Climbing Stairs Activity Toward Aerobic Fitness and Measurement of Its Energy Expenditure

Industrial Engineering Department, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Jawa Timur, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: debbie@petra.ac.id

Abstract

Aerobic fitness is one of the factors that affect occupational health. The way to improve aerobic fitness is through exercise that trains the cardiovascular organs. Busyness is often the cause of someone being too lazy to exercise. Researchers from Cambridge University say being sedentary is far more dangerous than being overweight. WHO says about two million people worldwide die from diseases caused by a lazy lifestyle and lack of exercise. One of the simple sports activities that can be done together with daily activities is going up and down stairs. This activity does not require special equipment and does not take much time. This study aimed to determine the effect of climbing stairs on aerobic fitness and the energy expenditure rate when climbing stairs. The treatment of climbing stairs was given to 28 respondents. Respondents were divided into two groups: the group that did the treatment five times a week for one month and the group that did the treatment six times a week for one month. The respondent’s initial aerobic fitness level was compared to aerobic fitness level after treatment. Fitness level measurement was carried out using sub-maximum exercise, namely the Harvard Step Test method. The comparison results show that all respondents experienced an increase in aerobic fitness level, and two respondents had a change in the aerobic fitness category from poor to below average. The treatment portion given did not differ between 5 times a week and six times a week. The Metabolic Work Rate (MWR) equation measured respondents’ energy expenditure. The average MWR of respondents is 5.7 kilocalories per minute or is included in the rather heavy physiological load category, the same as walking at a speed of 3 kilometers per hour, cycling at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour, and jogging at a speed of 7.2 kilometers per hour.