Home and laboratory based stair-climbing interventions have equivalent training effects

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the training effects of an 8-week stair-climbing intervention completed at home or in the laboratory. Methods: Thirty six sedentary women were randomly assigned to control (n=11), and stair climbing at home (n=13) or in the laboratory (n=12). Over 8-weeks, stair-climbing progressed from two ascents per day in week 1 and 2 to eight ascents per day in weeks 7 and 8, for five days/week at a stepping-rate of 90 steps/min. For the home-based stair-climbers, calculations based on the number and height of each participant's stairs matched the vertical displacement occurring with the laboratory stair-machine (143 stairs; 23cm each). Findings: The stair-climbing interventions reduced weight, percentage body fat and skinfold thickness, as well as improving fitness (increased VO2max, reduced lactate production) and serum lipid profiles (increased HDL, reduced LDL). Laboratory and home based interventions were equivalent for these variables. Conclusions: This study reveals that home and laboratory based stair-climbing can confer similar cardiovascular health benefits in sedentary women.