Treadmill shows medieval armour influenced battles

Medieval armour was so exhausting to wear that it could have affected the outcomes of famous battles, a study suggests.

Scientists monitored volunteers fitted with 15th Century replica armour as they walked and ran on treadmills.

By measuring levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as using high-speed cameras, they found that the subjects used high levels of energy, bore immense weight on their legs and suffered from restricted breathing.

The research is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Footage courtesy of the University of Leeds.