Measurement of Work,

Power, and Energy

Expenditure
 Objectives

 Define the terms work, power, energy, and net

efficiency
 Give a brief explanation of the procedure used
to calculate work performaed during cycle
ergometer exercise and treadmill exercise
 Describe the concept behind the measurement
of energy expenditure using direct and indirect
calorimetry
 Objectives

 Discuss the procedure used to estimate energy

expenditure during horizontal treadmill
walking and running
 Define the following terms: kilogram-meter,
relative VO2, MET, and open-circuit
spirometry
 Units of Measure
 English system used in United States
 Metric system is the standard system of measurement for
scientists
 Used to express mass, length, and volume
 System International units or SI units
 Standardized terms for measurement of:
 Energy
 Force
 Work
 Power
 Work
Work is the product of force and distance

Work = force x distance

 Lifting a 10 kg weight up a distance of 2 m

Work = force x distance
Work = 10*9.8 x 2 m
Work = 196joule
Kg – measure of mass, not force
 Power
Power is how much work is done per unit of time
Power = work / time

 Performing 2,0000 joule of work in 60 seconds

Power = work/time
Power = 2,0000/60s
Power = 333.3 watt
 ERGOMETRY:
 The science of ergometry concerns the
measurment of work.
W=fxd
 A device that can be used to measure work is
called as ergometer.

 Examples of ergometers used for exercise and

researh are the Bench Step, cycle, treadmill.

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 Cont….
 Ergometry enables the calculations of work, power, and external
energy production during exercise.

 The general components of these calculations are a resistance or load,

a distance the load is moved against gravity and over time, and the
duration (repetition) of the movement.

 The preferred unit to express energy is

KJ = 4.186 kcal.
 Power is expressed as KJ/min
KJ/min = 16.667watts.
Human workout along with ex efficiency by
W=FXD
P = W / T, P = F X D / T

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Bench step test:

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 Measurement of Work and Power
Bench Step
Ergometry: The term ergometry
refers to the measurement of work out
put.
Suppose A 70 kg man steps up and down on a 50
centimeter (0.5)bench step for 10 mins at a rate of
thirty steps per minute .The amount of work
performed during this 10 minute task can be
computed as follows.
Force=685.3 N (70kg *9.8)
Distance=0.5 *30*10=150m
Work=102,795 joule
Power=102,795\600=171.3 Watt
 Cont….
 Ex intensity is quantified in units of power.

 Individuals who can sustain high power outputs during

prolonged ex without becoming fatigued have high cardio
respiratory endurance fitness.

 Individuals who can generate high maximal power during

very short bursts of ex are suited to explosive ex such as
sprinting or weight lifting.

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Cycle ergometer:

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 Measurement of Work and Power
Cycle Ergometer
Work = resistance (kg) x (distance/revolution X
revolutions)
Work = force (kg) x distance (m)
Power = work  minutes
Treadmill Ergometry:

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 Measurement of Work and Power
Treadmill
 Calculation of work performed while a subject
runs or walks on a treadmill is not generally
possible when the treadmill is horizontal.
 Although running horizontal on a treadmill
requires energy
 Work performed during horizontal walking or
running is complicated
 Quantifiable work is being performed when
walking or running up a slope
Determination of Percent Grade
on a Treadmill
 Measurement of Work and Power
Treadmill
 Incline of the treadmill is expressed in percent grade
 Percent grade is the amount of vertical rise per 100
units of belt travel
Vertical displacement = % grade x Distance
Treadmill speed = 200m/min
Percent Grade = 7.5% or 0.075
Exercise time = 10 mins
Total vertical distance traveled
= 200m/min X 0.075 x 10 mins = 150 m
 Measurement of Work and Power
Treadmill
Work = body weight x total vertical distance
traveled
= 587.4x 150 m
= 88.110 joules
Power = work  minutes
= 88.110/10 mins(10*60=600 sec)
= 0.14685 Watts
 CALORIMETRY:
 The measurement of body metabolism from heat release.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6 H2O + ΔG = 648 kcal/mol
GLU CO2 / O2 = 6/ 6 = 1.0

C16H32O2 + 23O2 1 6CO2 +1 6 H2O + ΔG = 2340 kcal/mol

Palmitate CO2 / O2 = 16 / 32 = 0.69

 Heat is a major by-product of chemical reactions in the body, the heat

production from reactions is proportional to the no or rate of the
reactions.
 Therefore the amount of heat generated by the body is a reflection of the
metabolic rate.

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 Measurement of Energy
Expenditure
 Direct calorimetry
 Measurement of heat production as an indication
of metabolic rate

Cell work
Foodstuff + O2  ATP + Heat Heat
 Indirect calorimetry
 Measurement of oxygen consumption as an
estimate of resting metabolic rate

Foodstuff + O2  Heat + CO2 + H2O

 Estimation of Energy
Expenditure
 Energy cost of horizontal treadmill walking or
running
 O2 requirement increases as a linear function of
speed
 Expression of energy cost in METs
 1 MET = energy cost at rest
 1 MET = 3.5 ml•kg-1•min-1
Linear Relationship Between
VO2 and Walking or Running
Speed

Fig 6.5
 Calculation of Exercise
Efficiency
 Net efficiency

Work output
% net efficiency = Energy expended x 100
above rest

 Net efficiency of cycle ergometry

 15-27%
Factors That Influence Exercise
Efficiency
 Exercise work rate
 Efficiency decreases as work rate increases
 Speed of movement
 There is an optimum speed of movement, and
any deviation reduces efficiency
 Fiber composition of muscles
 Higher efficiency in muscles with greater
percentage of slow fibers
Relationship Between Energy
Expenditure and Work Rate
Effect of Speed of Movement of
Net Efficiency
 Running Economy
 Not possible to calculate net efficiency of
horizontal running
 Running Economy
 Oxygen cost of running at given speed
 Lower VO2 (ml•kg-1•min-1) indicates better running

economy
 Gender difference in running economy
 No difference at slow speeds
 At “race pace” speeds, males may be more
economical than females