What is the best method to increase the intensity of a treadmill workout by 1 MET for a client walking at 2 miles per hour?

Increasing the incline of the treadmill by a certain percentage is an effective method to raise the intensity of a workout without altering the speed of the exercise. Walking at 2 miles per hour is considered a lower intensity; thus, increasing the incline makes the exercise more challenging by requiring greater muscular effort and cardiovascular output.

When the incline is increased, the body must work harder to maintain balance and to propel itself upward, which increases the metabolic equivalent (MET) value associated with the activity. The specific increase of 3.5% incline has been shown in studies to raise the MET level effectively by the desired amount when walking at a slower pace, like 2 miles per hour.

Increasing speed to 3 miles per hour would definitely yield a boost in intensity, but it may not provide the exact 1 MET increase required, especially since speed changes can vary widely in their metabolic costs. Adding weight to the client's vest can increase intensity as well, but it doesn’t provide a precise method for controlling the MET increase across different individuals. Finally, simply extending the duration of the exercise session does not necessarily improve intensity; it only increases the length of time the client is active. Hence, adjusting an incline offers a direct and controlled way to modify workout intensity in this