To determine what kind of walking wear is suitable for one's health, we examined the changes in autonomic nervous system activity by analyzing heart rate variability and the changes of salivary α-amylase activity during exercise.
　First, ten female subjects were kept sedentary for 30 minutes in the experimental room at 25℃ before the experiments. The subjects were asked to walk at 3km/h and run at 5km/h on the treadmill for 5 minutes each after lying, sitting, and standing. Additionally, heart rate variability was measures while walking, stamping the feet and stepping up and down. The result showed that slow walking elevated parasympathetic nervous system activity more than standing. However, stamping the feet did not show the same effect as walking. Amylase activity increased after running but decreased after slow walking.
　Second, the effect of different types of clothing on autonomic nervous activity was measured. Five female subjects wore shorts, sport spats, sweat pants and jeans. Parasympathetic nervous system activity increased when the subjects wore jeans and decreased when they wore sweat pants. Additionally, subjects wore loose and tight-fitting stretchable sport shirts and pants. The tight fitting pants elevated parasympathetic nervous system activity, while loose-fitting pants elevated that of the sympathetic nervous system. When walking or jogging were performed wearing sportswear with different clothing pressure or tightness than the subjects were used to, the stress level became elevated.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.32/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE