Maximal and submaximal exercise in different positions

Maximal aerobic power tests on a treadmill and on a bicycle ergometer while sitting upright and in a low-sitting position were performed by seven males and five females. Treadmill max Vo2 for men and women combined was 4.0 and 11.2% higher compared to upright and low-sitting cycling, respectively. Maximal pulmonary ventilation, related respiratory measures, and heart rate were similar in all three tests. Submaximal work performed in the two cycling positions resulted in similar levels of oxygen uptake, ventilation, and heart rate. Work loads of 360 and 720 Kpm/min were performed by males with oxygen uptakes of 14.7 and 25.2 ml/kg . min, which corresponded to 30 and 52% of their upright-sitting maximal oxygen uptakes and to 33 and 55% of their low-sitting aerobic capacities respectively. Oxygen uptakes for work loads of 360 and 540 Kpm/min by females were 15.6 and 21.6 ml/kg . min, being equivalent to 42 and 58% of the maximal oxygen uptake in the upright-sitting, and to 43 and 60% in the low-sitting ergometer position, respectively.