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Physiological responses to upper body exercise on an arm and a modified leg ergometer
J Kang1, E C Chaloupka, M A Mastrangelo
1Exercise Science Research Laboratory, Department of Health and Exercise Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA. kang@rowan.edu
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|October 20, 1999
Summary
Upper body exercise elicits greater cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses on an arm ergometer (AE) compared to a modified leg ergometer (LE). This indicates AE requires more effort for the same workload, affecting exercise intensity and perceived exertion.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Understanding the physiological demands of different exercise modalities is crucial for training prescription.
- Arm ergometry (AE) and leg ergometry (LE) are commonly used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness, but direct comparisons of their physiological responses are limited.
- Modified leg ergometers allow for upper body engagement, necessitating a comparison with traditional arm ergometers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses during upper body exercise using an arm ergometer (AE) versus a modified leg ergometer (LE).
- To investigate differences in oxygen uptake, heart rate, ventilation, and perceived exertion between the two ergometers at equivalent power outputs.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen males and seven females performed 8-minute steady-state arm crank exercises on both AE and LE at standardized power outputs.
- Measurements included oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), expired ventilation (VE), gross efficiency (GE), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE).
- Exercise intensity was controlled by adjusting brake resistance, with a constant crank frequency of 50 rev/min.
Main Results:
- Male subjects exhibited significantly higher VO2, HR, RER, VE, and RPE, and lower GE on the AE compared to the LE at 50 and 75 W.
- Female subjects showed similar trends at 50 W, but no significant differences in VO2, RER, VE, or GE were observed at 25 W.
- These findings suggest that AE imposes a greater physiological and perceptual load than LE at higher power outputs.
Conclusions:
- Upper body exercise elicits greater cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses on an AE compared to an LE when power output is calculated using manufacturer specifications.
- The modified LE may offer a less demanding alternative for upper body exercise compared to a standard AE, particularly at lower intensities.
- These differences have implications for exercise testing, rehabilitation, and training program design.