The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of walking program with lightweighted shoes in middle and high-aged women. Five female university students and four middle and high-aged women were participated in this walking program with light-weighted shoes (1.2kg for each), and they tried to walk over 3,000 steps or 30 minutes on every day for eight weeks. The differences of exercise intensity between walking with light-weighted shoes and usual sport shoes (400g for each) were compared by measuring of heart rates during walking for 10 minutes at the speed of 80m/min. The effects of this walking program were evaluated from 7 items of physical fitness and 6 items of muscular strength tests before and after program.
　As the result, heart rates during walking with light-weighted shoes were higher from 10 to 20 percent than that with sport shoes. No significant mean differences were found in all variables of physical fitness and muscular strength test between before and after walking program, but the most of subjects increased after program in variables of forward bending with standing and maximal leg flexor strength. This study suggested that walking with lightweighted shoes increase energy costs during walking, and eight weeks of walking program improves lower back flexibility and leg flexor strength in middle and high-aged women.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.24/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE