Energy Expenditure of Sport Stacking
Steven R. Murray,1 Brian E. Udermann, FACSM,2 David M. Reineke,2 and Rebecca A. Battista2 1Mesa State College, Grand Junction, Colorado, and 2University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Sport stacking is a popular activity taught in many physical education programs. The activity, although very popular, has been studied minimally, and the energy expenditure for sport stacking is unknown.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the energy expenditure of sport stacking.
Methods
PARTICIPANTS:
Thirty-seven subjects (25 youths, mean age =
11 + 1.6 years, 17 boys, 8 girls; 12 adults, mean age 25.3 + 3.8
years, 5 men, 7 women) participated in this study.
PROCEDURES:
Subjects reported to the laboratory, were
informed of the procedures, signed consent forms, and were fitted
with head gear and a mouthpiece to collect expired gases via a
metabolic cart. Subjects stood stationary for 5 min for baseline
readings to be measured. Subjects then sport stacked for 5 min,
performing as many 3-6-3 stacks as possible. Subjects had to be
able to complete a 3-6-3 stack in less than 8 seconds to be
included in the study. The number of stacks completed was
recorded. The study design and its protocol were approved by the
Institutional Review Board of the University of Wisconsin-La
Crosse.
ANALYSES:
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the
mean and variability of the energy expenditure while standing and
stacking for each subgroup. Repeated measures ANOVA was
used to compare the mean energy expenditures between
Results
The youth and adult groups performed 31.2 + 6.5 and 31.5 + 4.4 stacks in 5 min, respectfully, and these values were not significantly different. No significant differences in energy expenditure between males, 8.0 + 0.4 ml/kg/min or 2.3 + 0.1 METS, and females, 7.5 + 0.4 ml/kg/min or 2.1 + 0.1 METS, (P = 0.381 for ml/kg/min, P = 0.337 for METS) were noted while stacks were performed. The average energy expenditure while stacking for the youths, 8.4 + 0.3 ml/kg/min or 3.1 + 0.5 METS, exceeded that of the adults, 7.0 + 0.4 ml/kg/min or 2.6 + 0.7 METS, (P = 0.024 for ml/kg/min, P = 0.018 for METS). Overall, the mean energy expenditure while standing was 5.9 ml/kg/min or 1.7 METs, compared to 10.2 ml/kg/min or 2.9 METs while stacking; significant differences were noted (P < 0.0005) between the standing and stacking mean values.
Conclusion
Sport stacking has an energy expenditure of 2.9 METs. Its energy expenditure is similar to other activities involved in typical physical education courses (e.g., weight lifting light to moderate, archery, bowling, volleyball, walking 2.5 mph). Thus, sport stacking could be deemed a valuable activity for physical education courses.