An acceptable workload for Indian workers

Five physically active young healthy workers, aged 20-24 yrs, were subjected to runs on a treadmili for 8 h at different relative loads (RLs) i.e. the percentage of maximum aerobic power ([Vdot]o2max)viz. 20,30,40,50, 60 and 70%, in comfortable laboratory conditions to determine the acceptable workload (AWL) for sustained physical activity. The findings have indicated that 35% RL could perhaps be reasonably considered as the AWL. The energy expenditure and the corresponding heart rate at this level of work would be around 18 kJ min−1 (gross) and 110 beats min−1 respectively.