Limb Disability Research Articles

A Brain-Controlled and User-Centered Intelligent Wheelchair: A Feasibility Study.

Recently, due to physical aging, diseases, accidents, and other factors, the population with lower limb disabilities has been increasing, and there is consequently a growing demand for wheelchair products. Modern product design tends to be more intelligent and multi-functional than in the past, with the popularization of intelligent concepts. This supports the design of a new, fully functional, intelligent wheelchair that can assist people with lower limb disabilities in their day-to-day life. Based on the UCD (user-centered design) concept, this study focused on the needs of people with lower limb disabilities. Accordingly, the demand for different functions of intelligent wheelchair products was studied through a questionnaire survey, interview survey, literature review, expert consultation, etc., and the function and appearance of the intelligent wheelchair were then defined. A brain-machine interface system was developed for controlling the motion of the intelligent wheelchair, catering to the needs of disabled individuals. Furthermore, ergonomics theory was used as a guide to determine the size of the intelligent wheelchair seat, and eventually, a new intelligent wheelchair with the features of climbing stairs, posture adjustment, seat elevation, easy interaction, etc., was developed. This paper provides a reference for the design upgrade of the subsequently developed intelligent wheelchair products.

Prevalence of Upper Extremity Injuries in Military Personnel and the Assessment of Disability Conditions according to Military Regulations

Objective: Musculoskeletal injuries have an essential place among the injuries of military personnel. Depending on the severity of these injuries and the degree of functional loss, return to work is delayed, and sequela leads to job loss and disability as well. This study has aimed to assess the distributions of current injuries and make recommendations to reduce these injuries and evaluate the conditions causing disability. Material and Method: Upper limb injury distribution and disability status of injured contracted soldiers/NCOs, who applied to a tertiary trauma center between January 2019 and January 2020, were evaluated according to Turkish Armed Forces Health Ability Regulation No. 6405. Results: The number of patients included in the study was 31. Their mean age was 21.45. A significant relationship was found when the relationship between injured areas and disability occurrence was evaluated (p=0.036). In this relationship, it was observed that the possibility of especially hand (excluding finger), forearm, and upper arm injuries to cause disability was high and that although the number of finger injuries was high, their possibility to cause disability was at 60%. There was no significant difference between combat and noncombat occupational accidents in terms of the injured areas (p=0.305). Conclusion: Although injuries in military personnel require long rest periods and finger loss poses a major obstacle to serving, there are loss of rights due to the limited disability conditions and insufficient details of the regulations. It is recommended that military guidelines be made more functional, reviewed by a board that includes a hand surgeon, increased training, and the development of double-stage security systems and protective equipment

Symmetric analysis in a wheelchair basketball player during an incremental intermittent test: a case study

BACKGROUND: Wheelchair basketball (WB) is a sport aimed at people with permanent disabilities in the lower limbs, with a functional classification system that allows the inclusion of various levels of injury from 1 to 4.5. Thus, it is natural that there is an increase in the search for greater sports performance which is related to physiological and kinematic analyses. AIM: The present study aimed to compare the symmetry of temporal kinematic variables in the different zones of effort intensity during an incremental intermittent field test. METHOD: The sample consisted of 1 male player aged (27 years), with spinal cord injury, with more than 5 years of gaming experience. The player performed the incremental field Yo-Yo Test - IR1 and the linear kinematics of the propulsive cycle was estimated. RESULTS: The results indicated that wheelchair propulsion is a symmetrical movement, although some asymmetries seem to be perceived qualitatively, but without a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: It was found that despite the injury to the right shoulder, there is symmetry in terms of wheelchair propulsion.

Novel Extension Control Instrument for Power Wheelchair Based on Kalman Filter Head Motion Detection

People with upper limb disabilities or high quadriplegia have extremely high requirements for the maneuverability and functionality of power wheelchairs. Normal wheelchairs cannot meet travel tasks, while smart customized wheelchairs are expensive and cannot be popularized. Therefore, a novel extension control instrument for power wheelchairs with low cost, strong scalability, and convenient usage is proposed, which can realize the control of the wheelchair by sensing a change of head posture. The device is divided into a head motion sensing unit (HMSU) and a wheelchair assistance control unit (WACU). The mapping relationship between the head attitude and the subject’s motion intention is established. The inertial measurement module in the HMSU collects the head attitude data and uses the Kalman filtering method to obtain the accurate Euler angle. The WACU is fixed on the original controller of the wheelchair. The joystick is inserted into the extended control mechanism and controlled, instead of the hand, through a 2-degree-of-freedom servo system combined with the pinion and rack push rod structure, thus controlling the movement of the wheelchair. In proceeding, the system can also detect the distance of objects in the environment in real time through the three-direction (front, left, right) ultrasonic ranging sensors installed on the WACU, with a certain obstacle avoidance function. The prototype experiments prove that the extension control instrument developed in this paper based on the Kalman filter can quickly and accurately identify head motion and accurately control the movement of the wheelchair. It is easy to operate and has strong universality, which presents a new low-cost solution for the travel of patients with disabilities.

The experimental study of mir-99a-5p negative regulation of TLR8 receptor mediated-mediated innate immune response in rabbit knee cartilage injury.

Traumatic cartilage injury is an important cause of osteoarthritis (OA) and limb disability, and toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediated innate immune response has been confirmed to play a crucial role in cartilage injury. In the previous study, we found that the activation of TLR8 molecules in injured articular cartilage was more obvious than other TLRs by establishing an animal model of knee impact injury in rabbits, and the changes of TLR8 molecules could significantly affect the process of articular cartilage injury and repair. To verify how mir-99a-5p regulates TLR8 receptor mediated innate immune response to treat traumatic cartilage injury. The impact of a heavy object on the medial condyle of the rabbit's knee joint caused damage to the medial condylar cartilage. Through pathological and imaging analysis, it was demonstrated whether the establishment of an animal model of traumatic cartilage injury was successful. Establishing a cell model by virus transfection of chondrocytes to demonstrate the role of TLR8 in the innate immune response to impact cartilage injury. Through transcriptome sequencing, potential targets of TLR8, mir-99a-5p, were predicted, and basic experiments were conducted to demonstrate how they interact with innate immune responses to impact cartilage damage. TLR8 is a receptor protein of the immune system, which is widely expressed in immune cells. In our study, we found that TLR8 expression is localized in lysosomes and endosomes. Mir-99a-5p can negatively regulate TLR8 to activate PI3K-AKT molecular pathway and aggravate cartilage damage. Inhibiting TLR8expression can effectively reduce the incidence of articular cartilage damage. Based on the results from this study, mir-99a-5p may be an effective molecular marker for predicting traumatic cartilage injury and targeting TLR8 is a novel and promising approach for the prevention or early treatment of cartilage damage.

СПОСОБ ЛЕЧЕНИЯ ЛОЖНЫХ СУСТАВОВ ЛАДЬЕВИДНОЙ КОСТИ ПУТЕМ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ НАДКОСТНИЧНЫХ ЛОСКУТОВ НА МЕТАКАРПАЛЬНЫХ АРТЕРИЯХ

The purpose of the study: to improve the method of surgical treatment of patients with scaphoid nonunion. Material and methods: the results of treatment of 30 patients operated on for scaphoid nonunion of the hand, which arose after conservative treatment (not treatment) of fractures, surgical treatment for 2018-2021 were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: 15 patients with scaphoid nonunion who underwent free bone autoplasty as a surgical aid, fixation of bone fragments with a headless screw – a control group; 15 patients with fscaphoid nonunion, who underwent free bone autoplasty as surgical treatment, supplemented with non-free plastic surgery with a periosteal flap on the metacarpal artery – the main (experimental) group of patients. The possibility of using periosteal flaps isolated from the first and second metacarpal bones was evaluated. To assess the results of treatment, X-ray monitoring of scaphoid nonunion consolidation was used at 8, 12 weeks and 6 months after surgery; computed tomography of wrist joints was performed at 4 months after surgery in order to assess the degree of bone graft reconstruction. Hand function was assessed before and after surgery using the DASH Upper Limb Disability Questionnaire and the Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS). Results of the study: in the experimental group, scaphoid nonunion consolidation was achieved in 13 out of 15 patients (86.6%) compared with the control group (10 out of 15 patients – 66.7%). According to the severity of the pain syndrome and the final functional result, comparable indicators were obtained in both groups. Discussion: given the small sample of patients who participated in the work, the study has moderate reliability. However, the data obtained allow us to hope for the effectiveness of the proposed method of surgical treatment used in patients of the main study group.

Investigation of the Effectiveness of the Robotic ReStore Soft Exoskeleton in the Development of Early Mobilization, Walking, and Coordination of Stroke Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Medical robotics nowadays can prevent, treat, or alleviate numerous severe conditions, including the dire consequences of stroke. Our objective was to determine the effect of employing a robotic soft exoskeleton in therapy on the development of the early mobilization, gait, and coordination in stroke patients. The ReStore™ Soft Exo-Suit, a wearable exosuit developed by a leading company with exoskeleton technology, was utilized. It is a powered, lightweight device intended for use in stroke rehabilitation for people with lower limb disability. We performed a randomized clinical intervention, using a before–after trial design in a university hospital setting. A total of 48 patients with a history of stroke were included, of whom 39 were randomized and 30 completed the study. Interventions: Barthel Index and modified Rankin scale (mRS) patients were randomly assigned to a non-physical intervention control (n = 9 of 39 completed, 30 withdrew before baseline testing), or to a high-intensity agility program (15 sessions, 5 weeks, n = 30 completed). The main focus of assessment was on the Modified Rankin Scale. Additionally, we evaluated secondary factors including daily life functionality, five dimensions of health-related quality of life, the Beck depression inventory, the 6 min walk test (6MWT), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and static balance (center of pressure). The Robot-Assisted Gait Therapy (ROB/RAGT) program led to significant improvements across various measures, including a 37% improvement in Barthel Index scores, a 56% increase in 10 m walking speed, and a 68% improvement in 6 min walking distance, as well as notable enhancements in balance and stability. Additionally, the intervention group demonstrated significant gains in all these aspects compared to the control group. In conclusion, the use of robotic therapy can be beneficial in stroke rehabilitation. These devices support the restoration and improvement of movement in various ways and contribute to restoring balance and stability.

Skin wound healing in diabetic rat model using low-dose photodynamic therapy.

Chronic wound is one of the major challenges in medicine and imposes a heavy financial burden on the healthcare of different countries. Diabetic foot ulcers as one of the important examples for chronic wounds can lead to lower limb amputation, disability, and death in diabetics. In this regard, novel technology with low side effects got attention in recent years. Low-dose photodynamic therapy (LDPDT) is one of the noninvasive techniques that can be considered for wound healing in diabetic wounds. In this experiment, we aim to study the effect of LDPDT on diabetic rats' wound healing and compare it to healthy rats. In this in vitro experimental study, 32 male rats were used. Rats in both normal and diabetic (streptozotocin injection) groups after being wounded (two wounds [0.8×0.8cm]) on the back of each rat were randomly divided into four groups, including the control group (without treatment), radiation-only (660nm-1 J/cm2 ) group, 5-ALA-only (1µg/mL) group, and LDPDT-recipient group. The procedure has been done for 2days, and at the end of Days 3, 7, 14, and 21, the wound sample was sent to the histopathology laboratory, and the wound size and tissue indices in these groups were evaluated by histology and microscopy techniques. The impact of low concentrations of 5-ALA and low irradiation energy density in both normal and diabetic rats were positive, which accelerated the wound-healing process as seen in the histology study. In diabetic rats treated with only radiation and LDPDT, the process of epithelial regeneration, collagen production, reduction of mast cells, and production of follicles was more as compared to the normal group. The results suggest that LDPDT can have a positive impact on the diabetic rat model wound healing.

Design and Analysis of VARONE a Novel Passive Upper-Limb Exercising Device

Robots have been widely investigated for active and passive rehabilitation therapy of patients with upper limb disabilities. Nevertheless, the rehabilitation assessment process is often ignored or just qualitatively performed by the physiotherapist implementing chart-based ordinal scales or observation-based measures, which tend to rely on professional experience and lack quantitative analysis. In order to objectively quantify the upper limb rehabilitation progress, this paper presents a noVel pAssive wRist motiOn assessmeNt dEvice (VARONE) having three degrees of freedom (DoFs) based on the gimbal mechanical design. VARONE implements a mechanism of three revolute passive joints with controllable passive resistance. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor is used to quantify the wrist orientation and position, and an encoder module is implemented to obtain the arm positions. The proposed VARONE device can also be used in combination with the previously designed two-DoFs device NURSE (cassiNo-qUeretaro uppeR limb aSsistive dEvice) to perform multiple concurrent assessments and rehabilitation tasks. Analyses and experimental tests have been carried out to demonstrate the engineering feasibility of the intended applications of VARONE. The maximum value registered for the IMU sensor is 36.8 degrees, the minimum value registered is −32.3 degrees, and the torque range registered is around −80 and 80 Nmm. The implemented models include kinematics, statics (F.E.M.), and dynamics. Thirty healthy patients participated in an experimental validation. The experimental tests were developed with different goal-defined exercising paths that the participant had to follow.

Study on the Prognosis Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment in Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy – A Nationwide, Population-based Study in Taiwan

Background: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the common chronic complications, leading to limb disability and increased risks of hospitalization and mortality. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been commonly applied in Taiwan as an adjunctive treatment to ameliorate diabetes-associated chronic complications, including neuropathy. Aim: We aimed to investigate whether the clinical treatment of DN combined with TCM can reduce the associated hospitalization and mortality using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. Methods: We selected 1,152 patients with DN who received TCM treatment as the study cohort group, and 4,940 patients with DN who did not receive TCM treatment from Taiwan NHIRD were further matched 1:1 for sex, age, and index year as the comparison cohort group. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to compare hospitalization and mortality during a mean follow-up period of 15 years. Results: A total of 687/225 enrolled patients (29.82%/9.77%) had hospitalization/mortality, including 298/97 in the TCM group (25.87%/8.42%) and 389/128 in the comparison group (33.77%/11.11%). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a lower rate of hospitalization and mortality for patients in the TCM group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] of 0.434, 95 confidence interval [CI] =0.172–0.798, P < 0.001; adjusted HR of 0.689, 95 CI = 0.372–0.981, P = 0.039). The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the cumulative risk of hospitalization and mortality in the study and comparison cohort groups was significantly different (log-rank P < 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the application of TCM might be beneficial for patients with DN to lower the risks of hospitalization and mortality; however, further prospective cohort studies are still required to confirm our observations.

Classification Of Robots and Industrial and Medical Applications

In the last 100 years, robots have evolved from fantasy to reality. Their design, research, and manufacture require the combination of various subjects such as CS, EEE, ME, AI, and others. The main objective is to replace humans in performing heavy or impossible tasks. Robots are classified into different categories based on their era and usefulness. This thesis will analyze industrial robots in terms of their basic stress conditions and activity scope with four degrees of freedom for the normal robot arm. The system architecture, various field interactions, and structure of mechanical fingers for human-like robot arms will also be analyzed. Additionally, this paper will examine the usefulness of service industry robots and highlight the exoskeleton robot for medical treatment by analyzing the forces, torques, and displacements during the walking of patients with lower limb disabilities. The interaction force between humans and exoskeleton robots will be calculated and a model will be constructed. Finally, some difficulties and possible solutions will be presented.

Application of AR technology in the treatment of Phantom Limb Pain

In recent years, with the continuous occurrence of accidents such as car accidents, wars, engineering accidents, natural disasters, tumors and vascular diseases, the number of patients with limb disability due to amputations or accidental injuries is also increasing. phantom limb pain (PLP), one of the main complications after amputation, has attracted increasing attention. Phantom limb pain, also known as phantom limb pain, refers to the subjective feeling that the amputated limb still exists, and is accompanied by varying degrees of pain, and the pain is mostly in the distal end of the amputated limb. Most phantom pain is combined with stump pain or phantom sensation. There are as many as 37 treatments for PLP, considering the high frequency of its occurrence and how much it affects patients. They can be broadly categorized as pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, and psychotherapy. Each of these therapies has its own drawbacks, which AR technology is well equipped to make up for.

Customized Orthosis Design Based on Surface Reconstruction from 3D-Scanned Points

Limb disability is a frequent healthcare problem, especially for patients in primary care. Orthotic treatment has become the most common practice for either rehabilitation or permanent assistance, due to the emergence of 3D scanning and 3D printing technologies. A CAD model rebuilt from captured data is a key step in the rapid prototyping process of customized orthoses. An accurate and robust surface reconstruction technique remains a research challenge, aiming for a well-fitting design and the patient’s comfort. Thus, this paper presents of a new 3D curve-based reconstruction algorithm to obtain a precise 3D surface of an orthotic device from a scanned body part. Numerical experiments of two orthosis design case studies are shown to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the proposed approach compared to other reconstruction methods.

Retracted: Intelligent Writing System for Patients with Upper Limb Disabilities

Retracted: Intelligent Writing System for Patients with Upper Limb Disabilities

Prevalence of lower limb pain and disability in football, hockey, and floorball players.

Currently there are not enough studies that compared frequent types of collective sports with regard to the prevalence of pain and disability of the lower limb. To determine the prevalence of lower limb pain and disability in team sports players. 388 athletes with average age 27.26 ± 4.69, from sports clubs at the national level were included in the study. The Oxford Hip Score was used to determine the prevalence of hip pain. The International Knee Documentation Committee was used to determine the prevalence of knee pain. The Foot and Ankle Disability Index was used to determine the prevalence of ankle pain. Hockey players had a prevalence of hip pain of 97.2% and a 14.3 times higher risk of developing hip pain compared with football and floorball players. Floorball players had a 81.9% prevalence of knee pain, with a 3.8 times higher the risk of knee pain compared with football and hockey. Floorball players had a 62.3% prevalence of ankle pain and a 1.8 times higher the risk of developing ankle pain compared with football and hockey players. The highest percentage of knee 81.9% and ankle 62.3% pain, as well as the greatest risk of pain, was found among floorball players. Hockey players had the highest prevalence (97.2%) and risk of developing hip pain.

Innovative Stress-responsive Liner Design for Lower Limb Disability

After lower limb amputation or disability, prosthetic limbs are essential for regaining mobility, but skin integrity often degrades due to mechanical stresses at the stump–prosthesis interface. In this study, the finite element method was utilized to predict the areas at the stump–prosthetic interface experiencing the highest levels and distributions of mechanical stresses. The empirical results of the finite element analysis (FEA) delineated the stress concentration sites. Consequently, we devised an innovative liner design tailored to these stress patterns, which was subsequently implemented. The simulation outcomes validated the effectiveness of the liner, demonstrating significant reductions in stress levels at the junction of the residual limb and the prosthetic socket. The results demonstrated that the designed liner was highly effective in reducing stress, particularly in three critical areas: the lateral area of the tibia head (LTH), the tibia end area (TE), and the fibular end (FE). Stress values at the LTH were reduced from 55 to 10 kPa, at the TE from 60 to 28 kPa, and at the FE from 72.3 to 14 kPa. In essence, this liner represents a bespoke intervention, with the FEA serving as a predictive tool that not only identifies critical stress points but also guides the design of personalized prosthetic liners. These findings will improve the structural and functional compatibility of the prosthesis, thereby enhancing wearer comfort and reducing the risk of skin-related complications for persons with disabilities.

Analysis of Hand Function, Upper Limb Disability, and Its Relationship with Peripheral Vascular Alterations in Raynaud's Phenomenon.

This study aimed to compare vascular involvement, hand functionality, and upper limb disability between Raynaud's phenomenon participants and controls. Also, we analyzed the relationships between vascular impairment, mobility, and strength with disability in this Raynaud population. We conducted a case-control study with fifty-seven participants. We registered sociodemographic and clinical data; vascular variables (temperature, cold test, blood flow, and oxygen saturation); functional variables (pinch strength, range of motion), and disability (Shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire) (Q-DASH). Raynaud participants present more disability in all Q-DASH subscales, lower hands' temperature pre and post cold test, decreased blood flow on radial artery, decreased ranges of motions at passive extension of index finger, and active flexion and extension of thumb than the healthy controls. The multivariate regression analysis showed that extension of the index finger, lateral pinch strength, and oxygen saturation were significantly associated with disability in RP, almost the 55% of the total variance on the upper limb, 27% at sports/arts, and 42% at work. Our findings suggest that RP has a disabling effect on the upper extremities and a practice of activities in people who suffer it. Also, disability in Raynaud seems to be more related with hand mobility and strength impairment than vascular injury.

Brian Electrical Activity Acquisition and Decoding Algorithms For Using BMIs

Physical disabilities in limbs often lead to severe impacts on personal life and work. However, BMI technology offers hope for amputees or paralyzed individuals to regain control and motor abilities. By reading signals from the brain's motor cortex, BMI technology enables the control of robotic arms, cursors, and more, facilitating functional recovery. The key lies in identifying and extracting information related to specific tasks or intentions from brain signals, where the decoder determines the accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity of the final movements. This paper aims to provide a brief overview of the decoding steps in BMIs. The paper will discuss how the raw signals are acquired from the brain, including invasive BMI and noninvasive BMI, along with the respective advantages and disadvantages of these two approaches. Then, it will explore how these signals are processed into specific commands through both linear and nonlinear algorithms. Additionally, the paper will discuss the strengths, limitations, and feasibility of different decoding methods in human-computer interaction applications. This review offers researchers a preliminary understanding of the acquisition and decoding algorithms for brain electrical activity in BMIs. By evaluating the strengths and limitations of different algorithms, we can provide guidance for designing and improving BMI systems, thereby supporting the achievement of more accurate and efficient human-computer interaction.

Classifying Hand Dexterity Impairment in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy With 10-Second Grip and Release Test.

Diagnostic accuracy study with prospectively collected data. This study aimed to establish optimal cutoff values for the 10-second grip and release (10s-G&R) Test to distinguish between mild, moderate, and severe levels of hand dexterity impairment in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). The 10s-G&R test is widely utilized to assess hand function in DCM patients. However, whether this test can effectively distinguish between varying severities of hand dexterity impairment, along with the relevant cutoff values, remains unknown. The authors analyzed hand motion data from 551 consecutively enrolled DCM patients using an artificial intelligent system. In addition, the authors conducted evaluations of functional status, quality of life, and outcome measures. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed to determine cutoff values that differentiate mild, moderate, and severe hand dexterity impairments based on the ability to fasten buttons, as assessed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire Q2-1. The validity of these cutoffs was assessed by comparing G&R parameters, upper limb disability, overall disease severity, and quality of life among patients in different severity groups. The authors identified 16 G&R cycles as the cutoff for moderate hand dexterity impairment and 13 G&R cycles as the cutoff for severe impairment. Patients with severe impairment exhibited significantly worse G&R parameters, more severe upper limb symptoms, greater overall disease severity, and reduced quality of life. Patients completing fewer than 13 G&R cycles within 10 seconds were more likely to have moderate-to-severe DCM, indicating the need for potential surgical intervention. The authors propose classifying mild hand dexterity impairment as 17 to 20 cycles on the 10s-G&R test, moderate as 14 to 16 cycles, and severe as 13 cycles or less. Our study underscores that the 10s-G&R test can serve as an effective supplementary tool within the context of other currently available measurement tools.

Does Exercise Testing with Arm Crank Ergometer Substitute for Cycle Ergometer to Evaluate Exercise Capacity?

Using the upper limbs to test cardiopulmonary exercise can be a useful option in the case of individuals who are unable to pedal a bicycle due to lower limb injury or disability. We evaluated whether exercise testing with the upper limbs can be used equivalently to that of the lower limbs in assessing exercise capacity. Nine collegiate rowers and eight collegiate cyclists underwent incremental exercise testing with an arm crank ergometer (ACE) and cycle ergometer (CE). Heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake (VO2) were monitored throughout the tests. Segmental muscle mass and flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery were measured to assess the training status of the upper limbs. The muscle mass of the brachium, upper limb, and trunk were greater in the rowers than in the cyclists (p < 0.05). The correlations between HR and VO2 was significantly different depending on exercise modalities, ACE and CE, in both groups (p < 0.001). The estimated maximal VO2 using the correlation formula and age-predicted maximal HR was significantly lower in the exercise testing group with ACE than in the group with CE in rowers and cyclists (41.7 ± 7.3 vs. 52.6 ± 8.6 mL/kg/min, p = 0.010 and 35.5 ± 14.2 vs. 50.4 ± 13.4 mL/kg/min, p = 0.011, respectively). The results suggested that exercise capacity assessed by exercise testing with ACE is underestimated, regardless of the training status of the upper limbs. Further research is needed to verify factors which affect the correlations between HR and VO2 during upper- and lower-limb exercise.