Responses to submaximal and maximal arm cycling above, at, and below heart level

It has been suggested previously that arm position may influence the cardiovascular and metabolic adjustments to arm cycling. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to compare the responses to submaximal and maximal arm cycling with the arms positioned above, at, and below heart level. Five untrained subjects performed arm cycling at each of the three positions at 0, 29.6, 59.0, and 88.0 W. The work rate of 59.0 W was the highest work rate that could be maintained for 10 min by all five subjects. In addition, all subjects performed maximal cycling exercise at all three arm positions in order to determine arm VO2peak. A restraining harness and synchronous arm cycling were used to isolate the work to the arms as much as possible. Arm VO2peak averaged only 57% of leg VO2peak in the present study, due probably to the harness used to reduce the use of accessory muscles during arm exercise, as well as the use of synchronous arm cycling, which reduces trunk rotation. The present study found no significant difference in the responses to either submaximal or maximal arm cycling with the arms positioned above, at, or below heart level. These results suggest that possible changes in arm-muscle blood flow exert only negligible effects when rhythmic dynamic arm exercise is performed in an overhead position.