Why You Get Shortness of Breath When Climbing Stairs
What’s the deal with shortness of breath after taking the steps? It has to do with slow-twitch versus fast-twitch muscle fibers.
“[Running] mainly relies on slow-twitch fibers, which are used for endurance and rely on aerobic metabolism.
The slow-twitch fiber is high in endurance and fatigue resistance but low in power and strength. While climbing stairs can be an endurance activity, to propel your body vertically takes more strength and power, thus requiring more fast-twitch fibers to be recruited to accomplish the task.”
Read the article and learn more:
Courtesy of Danielle Zickl for Runner’s World