COMPARISON OF PHYSIOLOGIC RESPONSES TO ARM EXERCISE ON AN ARM ERGOMETER AND A WORKLOAD ADJUSTED MODIFIED LEG ERGOMETER

Abstract

We previously compared oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR) and perceptual responses (RPE) to upper body exercise on an arm ergometer (AE) and a modified leg ergometer (LE). Power outputs of 50 and 75 W were used. It was concluded that VO2, HR and RPE were higher during arm crank exercise on an AE than a LE at power outputs of 50 and 75W with these physiologic differences attributed to the mechanical differences between an AE and a LE. PURPOSE: To determine the physiologic responses to arm crank exercise on a workload adjusted LE as compared to an AE to compensate for the mechanical differences between the two ergometers. METHODS: Nineteen males age 24 ± 7 y (mean ± SD) completed six 8-min steady-state arm crank exercises on either an AE (50 and 75 W) or a LE (55, 60, 80 and 85 W). Oxygen uptake, HR and RPE were measured during the last 2 min of each exercise bout. Physiologic comparisons were made between AE 50 and LE 55, 60 W and AE 75 and LE 80, 85 W. RESULTS: Oxygen uptake was not significantly different between AE 50 and Le 55 and between AE 75 and LE 80 but was significantly higher for LE 60 as compared to LE 55 and AE 50 and LE 85 as compared to LE 80 and AE 75. Similar results were found for HR except LE 80 and LE 85 were not significantly different. RPE was also not significantly different between AE 50 and LE 55 but was significantly higher for LE 60 as compared to LE 55 and AE 50. No significant differences were found for RPE among AE 75, LE 80 or LE 85. CONCLUSION: At the power outputs investigated, a 5 W increase in the load on a LE will adjust for the mechanical differences between an AE and a LE.