INTRODUCTION

Climbing stairs is an excellent form of physical exercise. Many individuals hope to tone their muscles in their lower extremity while improving their cardiovascular system, strength and endurance. Many corporations have produced machines made to simulate stair climbing, often called a Stairmaster. Many individuals would like to compare the use of Stairmaster climbing to stair climbing. It is important for these physically active individuals to know which exercise is more effective and minimizes the risk of injury to their body.

The purpose of this movement analysis is to study and determine which form of exercise is the most effective in providing a quality workout while minimizing the risk of injury. We believe we can determine the optimal type of exercise by recording both motions of a subject using a Stairmaster and stair climbing. After the movements are quantified, we can then analyze the data and make the decision.