Comparison of peak oxygen uptake in arm cranking

Twenty male subjects, age (+/- SD) 31.1 +/- 5.6 years and weight 74.3 +/- 12.7 kg participated in this study to compare the VO2 peak values in arm cranking obtained using continuous (C) and discontinuous (D) protocols. Each subject performed a continuous (C) and discontinuous (D) protocol in random order on two separate days. Cranking was performed at 60 rev X min-1 with tests terminated when this fell below 50. Peak values for oxygen uptake ventilation and heart rate were determined during each test. The C protocol involved increasing power output each minute, while in the D protocol 2 min work bouts were separated by 1 min rest intervals. No significant differences (p greater than 0.05) between the C and D protocols were shown on any measured variable. It was concluded that the use of C or D protocols for determining VO2 peak in arm cranking provide comparable results with the C protocol being advantageous in terms of administration time.