The experiment began with a visit to habituate the participants to the treadmill, collect anthropometric and physical data, determine pubertal status through use of Tanner staging self-assessment, measure body fat percentage, and to have participants complete a Bar-Or modified questionnaire that elicited info on previous six-month physical activity, as well as a second questionnaire to determine the details of activity and food intake for the day of testing.

During the second visit, participants were required to abstain from food for 2 hours prior to testing and from exercise 5 hours prior to testing. Upon arrival, participants were connected to a metabolic cart, and pre-exercise oxygen consumption was monitored during quiet sitting to give an estimate of the sitting metabolic rate (SBR). Sensors were also placed on various landmarks of the participants' bodies to collect kinematic data. After the SBR was determined, the participants performed 4 minutes of treadmill walking at 3km/h and 0% grade. After data collection, energy and energy transfer values were also calculated, and statistical analysis (one-way analysis, unpaired t-tests, linear regression) was performed to determine differences in metabolic measures, energy transfer measures, and mechanical power.