Relationship between limbs anthropometrical characteristics and energy expenditure during arm cranking and leg cycling unloaded exercises

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of VO 2 during unloaded arm cranking and leg cycling exercises to respectively relevant upper and lower limbs anthropometrical characteristics. Method Fifteen males completed a 5-min unloaded bout on an arm crank ergometer (60 rpm) and a cycle ergometer (90 rpm). VO 2 corresponding to each unloaded exercise (VO 2unload), body mass, lengths, and circumferences of upper and lower limbs were measured. Results Upper limbs cranking showed a significantly lower ( P < 0.001) VO 2unload than lower limbs cycling (499.0 ± 56.5 and 981.6 ± 126.0 ml min −1). Moreover, upper and lower limbs VO 2unload values were significantly and positively correlated with circumferences, and length of upper and lower limbs, respectively, with highest correlations obtained between circumferences and VO 2unload. The amount of VO 2unload is then principally dependent (i) on the inertia of the limbs, which increased with the circumference of the limb and (ii) on the arm level, which increased with the length of the limb. On the other hand, body mass was not or less correlated with VO 2unload. This result could be explained by the specificity of the unloaded exercise since only the limb muscles were activated, the entire body mass not being representative of the muscle mass activated.