Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

Experimental Protocol of a Three-minute, All-out Arm Crank Exercise Test in Spinal-cord Injured and Able-bodied Individuals
Published on: June 8, 2017
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: arm crank vs cycle ergometry
J L Orr1, P Williamson, W Anderson
1Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK.
Abstract:
This pilot study compared oxygen consumption during arm crank and cycle ergometer tests in 15 women. The mean (SD) peak oxygen consumption was less with arm cranking (25 (5) ml.kg(-1) .min(-1)) than with cycling (40 (7) ml.kg(-1) .min(-1)), p < 0.0001. The mean (SD) anaerobic threshold was less with arm cranking (13 (2) ml.kg(-1) .min(-1)) than with cycling (20 (4) ml.kg(-1) .min(-1)), p < 0.0001. There was moderate correlation, r(2) = 0.60, between the anaerobic thresholds determined by arm and leg exercise, p = 0.0007. This study suggests that arm crank cardiopulmonary exercise testing could be used for pre-operative assessment in those unable to cycle.
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