Metabolic and perceptual responses during arm and leg ergometry in water and air

This investigation determined metabolic (i.e., kcal.min-1) responses and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) for varying pedal-crank rates (PCR) and power outputs (PO) during arm and leg exercise in thermoneutral air (TA) and water (TW). Nine males (age 28.2 yr; leg cycle VO2peak 3.4 l.min-1) undertook the 24 exercise trials. During the TW trials kcal.min-1 were less (P < 0.05): at 50 W for 40 (X +/- SE; 10.9 +/- 0.8) than 50 (8.2 +/- 0.2), 60 (8.2 +/- 0.6), or 70 (7.4 +/- 0.3) rev.min-1 and at 100 W for 40 (15.2 +/- 0.7), 50 (14.0 +/- 1.1), and 60 (13.8 +/- 0.7) than 70 (12.1 +/- 0.5) rev.min-1. All other comparisons of kcal.min-1 between PCR at the three PO were not significant. During the TA trials kcal.min-1 were less (P < 0.05): at 50 W for 40 (11.4 +/- 0.3) than 60 (9.7 +/- 0.4) and 70 (9.1 +/- 0.4) rev.min-1 and for 50 (11.0 +/- 0.5) than 70 rev.min-1. During the TW trials: RPE-Arms and RPE-Overall at 50 W were lower (P < 0.05) for 40 (8.1 +/- 0.5; 8.3 +/- 0.4) than 60 (9.6 +/- 0.5; 9.8 +/- 0.6) and 70 (9.3 +/- 0.5; 9.9 +/- 0.7) rev.min-1, RPE-Legs at 50 W was lower (P < 0.05) for 40 (8.3 +/- 0.4) than 70 (9.9 +/- 0.7) rev.min-1. All other comparisons of RPE between PCR at the three PO were not significant.