Two-pedal ergometer for in vivo MRS studies of human calf muscles

This article describes an ergometer that enables human subjects to exercise one or both limbs while (31)P NMR spectra are obtained. Two independent pedals, equipped with position and force transducers, were mounted on the ergometer in order to calculate mechanical work performance. First, the effect of the magnetic field upon the signal coming from the transducers was investigated. Then the ergometer was tested by performing a series of steady-state exercises of increasing intensity. Experimental data showed that actual mechanical power ranged from 1.5 +/- 0.2 W to 11.0 +/- 1.6 W, while the corresponding oxygen consumption increased from 0.28 +/- 0.04 l/min at rest to 0.48 +/- 0.10 l/min at the highest load, and the PCr/(PCr+P(i)) ratio, as calculated from the (31)P spectra, decreased from 0.94 +/- 0.01 at rest to 0.73 +/- 0.04. These results are consistent with the values reported in the literature and show that this ergometer, which is easy to use, is suitable for in vivo spectroscopy research when metabolic steady-state conditions are required.