Psychophysiological responses to stride frequency manipulation in men and women

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Walking at a truly self-selected preferred stride frequency significantly reduced oxygen uptake and perceived exertion while increasing positive valence compared to imposed stride frequencies.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: RCT. Population: Healthy adults (n=19). Intervention: Preferred stride frequency (PSF3) vs. Imposed stride frequencies (PSF2, +10% PSF2, -10% PSF2). Primary outcome: Oxygen uptake (VO2) compared to +10% imposed stride frequency (Hedges' g 1.10, p=<0.001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Walking at preferred stride frequency minimizes oxygen uptake and perceived exertion while maximizing positive affective valence compared to walking at higher or lower stride frequencies in both men and women. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine psychophysiological responses, including energy expenditure, perceived exertion, and affective valence, to stride frequency manipulation during walking in men and women.

Ribal Abdul Karim; Gavin Glasgow; Jill Baker; Jeannette Byrne; Rodrigo Hohl; Fabien A. Basset

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0355226

August 5, 2026PLoS ONEOpen Access

Psychophysiological responses to stride frequency manipulation in men and women

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Self-selected stride frequency cuts oxygen uptake ~7% vs. imposed cadence while lowering perceived exertion.

Hedges' g −1.10
P<0.001
n=19

Figures

Why the study?

The study was conducted to examine psychophysiological responses to stride frequency manipulation during walking in men and women.

Does walking at a truly self-selected preferred stride frequency improve energy cost, perceived exertion, and affective valence compared to imposed or altered stride frequencies in healthy adults?

Key Points

To examine psychophysiological responses, including energy expenditure, perceived exertion, and affective valence, to stride frequency manipulation during walking in men and women.
Nineteen healthy adults (11 men, 8 women; age 25 ± 5 years) completed a familiarization session and an experimental session.
Participants completed four 15-minute counterbalanced treadmill walking conditions: Session 1 preferred stride frequency imposed in Session 2 (PSF2), Session 2 preferred stride frequency (PSF3), and ±10% deviations from PSF2.
Outcomes included oxygen uptake (V̇O2), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), Feeling Scale (affective valence), Felt Arousal Scale, and heart rate.
Oxygen uptake was significantly lower at PSF3 (0.83 ± 0.15 L/min) compared to −10%PSF2 (0.88 ± 0.19 L/min; p = 0.007, g = 0.67), +10%PSF2 (0.89 ± 0.16 L/min; p < 0.001, g = 1.10), and PSF2 (0.86 ± 0.17 L/min; p = 0.038, g = 0.49).
Perceived exertion was significantly lower at PSF3 (8.95 ± 0.37) compared to −10%PSF2 (9.63 ± 0.44; p = 0.01, g = 0.63), +10%PSF2 (9.78 ± 0.48; p = 0.002, g = 0.79), and PSF2 (9.52 ± 0.40; p = 0.038, g = 0.49).
Affective valence was significantly higher at PSF3 (2.179 ± 0.37) than at −10%PSF2 (1.726 ± 0.30; p = 0.024, g = 0.53) and +10%PSF2 (1.768 ± 0.36; p = 0.033, g = 0.50), with no significant sex-by-condition interactions for any primary outcome (all p > 0.05).

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=19)

Randomization

Participants randomly completed four 15-minute walking conditions in a counterbalanced order

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does walking at a truly self-selected preferred stride frequency improve energy cost, perceived exertion, and affective valence compared to imposed or altered stride frequencies in healthy adults?

P

Population

19 healthy, physically active adults aged 18-35 years who completed four 15-minute walking conditions at different stride frequencies.

I

Intervention

Walking on a treadmill for 15 minutes at imposed stride frequencies: previously measured preferred stride frequency (PSF2), +10% of PSF2, and -10% of PSF2.

C

Comparator

Walking on a treadmill for 15 minutes at a newly measured, truly self-selected preferred stride frequency (PSF3).

O

Outcome

Oxygen uptake (V̇O2), affective valence (Feeling Scale), arousal (Felt Arousal Scale), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and heart rate (HR) measured during 15-minute walking conditions.patient reported

Main Result

Standardized Mean Difference: 1.1

Absolute Event Rate: 0.83% vs 0.89%

p-value: p=<0.001

Walking at a truly self-selected stride frequency minimizes energy cost and perceived exertion while maximizing positive affective valence compared to imposed or altered stride frequencies.

Limitations

Small sample size of young, healthy individuals limits generalizability
Underpowered for between-sex comparisons
Treadmill walking may not fully replicate overground locomotion
Potential menstrual phase misclassification in female participants
Ordinal nature of affective and perceptual scales analyzed parametrically
Small sample size (N=19)

Key expert perspectives

Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.

ARAnonymous ReviewerPeer Reviewer

“This study compared metabolic cost and perceptual responses during walking at preferred stride frequency (PSF), PSF+10%, and PSF-10% conditions in men and women. It was reported that PSF condition elicited lower oxygen uptake, lower rating of perceived exertion, and higher positive valence compared to the ±10% deviations. The authors have concluded that PSF minimizes energy cost and psychological responses during walking, with no difference between men and women.”

PLOS One

ARAnonymous ReviewerPeer Reviewer

“Previous research has shown that oxygen consumption is minimal when walking at the preferred stride frequency (PSF) compared with faster or slower frequencies, when walking speed is maintained across conditions. This study extends that work by also assessing psychological responses to walking at different stride frequencies. This manuscript presents original research and for the most part meets the review requirements for PLOS One.”

PLOS One

ARAnonymous ReviewerPeer Reviewer

“I have two major concerns about statictics and interpretation of findings, and a number of smaller concerns.... I am concerned about type I error rate in the study.”

PLOS One

Implication

Preferred stride frequency reduces oxygen uptake and exertion during walking; confirms prior observations while extending evidence to affective valence in an RCT.

Abstract

This study examined psychophysiological responses to stride frequency manipulation during walking in men and women. Nineteen healthy adults (11 men, 8 women) completed two sessions: familiarization session (session 1) during which the preferred stride frequency (PSF1) and its corresponding speed (PWS1) were determined, and experimental session (session 2) that consisted of participants walking at four 15-minute treadmill counterbalanced conditions: the preferred stride frequency measured in Session 1 and being imposed in session 2 called PSF2, new PSF measured in Session 2 (PSF3), and ±10% deviations from PSF2. Oxygen uptake (V̇O 2 ), affective valence (Feeling Scale), arousal (Felt Arousal Scale), the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects of stride frequency on V̇O 2 ( p < 0.001), feeling scale ( p < 0.05), and RPE ( p < 0.05). Planned contrasts showed that PSF3 elicited lower V̇O 2 ( p < 0.01, medium to large effect size), lower RPE ( p < 0.05, medium to large effect size) and higher positive valence ( p < 0.05, medium effect size) compared to the ± 10% deviations. Planned contrasts also showed that PSF3 compared to PSF2, elicited lower V̇O 2 ( p < 0.05, medium effect size), lower RPE ( p < 0.05, medium effect size) and higher positive valence ( p = 0.05, medium effect size). Heart rate recovery was faster in women ( p < 0.05), but no sex-condition interactions emerged for any primary outcomes (all p > 0.05). Findings demonstrate that preferred stride frequency minimizes energy cost and RPE scores and reflects higher positive valence during walking with no difference between men and women in our sample.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Karim et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Healthy adults (n=19). Preferred stride frequency (PSF3) vs. Imposed stride frequencies (PSF2, +10% PSF2, -10% PSF2) was evaluated on Oxygen uptake (VO2) compared to +10% imposed stride frequency (Hedges' g 1.10, p=<0.001). Walking at a truly self-selected preferred stride frequency significantly reduced oxygen uptake and perceived exertion while increasing positive valence compared to imposed stride frequencies.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a758c2e847ab6d26c02009f https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0355226

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Psychophysiological responses to stride frequency manipulation in men and women

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Key expert perspectives

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Psychophysiological responses to stride frequency manipulation in men and women

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Key expert perspectives

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

More related papers

More from PLoS ONE

Keep reading

More related papers

More from PLoS ONE