Analysis of Energy Expenditure during Walking using the Oxygen Consumption Method based on the Arch Type of the Students at the Sports Science Faculty of Universitas Negeri Jakarta

Most of the studies examining the foot classified the foot arch into three types based on the index value by normal, low, and high. The varied foot arch structure caused an abnormal form of alignment require the foot to gain greater effort in performing its functions. This study aims to see the difference in energy expenditure during walking on three-foot arch types calculated by measuring oxygen consumption. The 24 students at the Faculty of Sports Science, Universitas Negeri Jakarta were divided equally into three groups of foot arch type. The selected foot arch type was based on the footprint ratio index. Each student walked without footwear for 6 minutes on a treadmill connected with a breath-by-breath automated gas-analysis system (FitMate Pro, Cosmed, Italy), while the oxygen consumption was calculated. The walking speed used was the most comfortable walking speed chosen by the students. The results showed that the low-arched type had the highest tendency of body weight, height, and body mass index, compared to the other two-foot arch types. Data analysis of oxygen consumption during walking on all three-foot arch types showed a significant difference (p=0.000). The smallest oxygen consumption is in the normal-arched type while the high-arched type, and the greatest is in the low-arched type. The foot arch type affects energy consumption during walking. The least energy consumption during walking is in normal-arched type, and the greatest one is in low-arched type.