Cardiovascuar effects of arm and leg exercise

Cardiovascular Effects to Combined Arm and Leg Exercise
J. Mayo, L. Kravitz, L, Chitwood, S.J. Kinzey, W. Waters, J. Wongsathikun

The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological effects of varied arm and leg work during total body exercise. Fourteen subjects (7 males, 7 females; age = 22 ± 2 yrs; wt = 67.9 ± 12.8 kg) first completed a maximal leg cycling test (Wmax) then on separate days performed six submaximal exercise trials at 60% of leg cycling Wmax with total work output (WO) being distributed between the upper and lower body (see photo 1). All combined work incorporated synchronous cranking and cycling at 50 rev.min-1 using two Monarch cycle ergometers. Subjects completed 7 min of submaximal exercise using the following work ratios: 0/60 (0% arms/WO, all legs), 5/55 (8% arms/WO), 10/50 (17% arms/WO), 15/45 (25% arms/WO), 20/40 (33% arms/WO), 25/35 (42% arms/WO). Oxygen consumption (VO2), ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were continuously monitored using open circuit spirometry. A rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was attained after each trial. MANOVA with repeated measures revealed a significant (p < .0001) within group effect. VO2 was significantly lower (p < .05) during the 0% arms/WO trial compared to 33% and 42% arms/WO (27.81 ± 2.3 vs. 29.42 ± 2.3 and 30.35 ± 2.1 ml.kg-1. min-1, respectively for 0%, 33% and 42% arms/WO). A higher (p < .05) VE response was elicited when the arms contributed 42% of WO compared to all other exercise trials (37.3 ± 7.2, 39.6 ± 7.5, 39.7 ± 6.5, 39.1 ± 6.5, 41.0 ± 6.6 and 42.8 ± 7.0 L.min-1, respectively for 0%, 8%, 17%, 25%, 33% and 42% arms/WO). HR was significantly higher (p < .05) when the arms contributed 33% and 42% of the WO compared to 0% arms/WO (149 ± 11 vs. 156 ± 13 and 160 ± 11 b.min-1, respectively for 0%, 33% and 42% arms/WO). No significant differences were observed for RER and RPE. These findings suggest that at 60% Wmax cardiovascular responses to combined arm and leg exercise were notably effected when the upper body contributed 33% or more of WO.

Research Interests |

Vita |

UNM |