Abstract

This study compared the circulatory and metabolic responses of arm crank ergometer (ACE) exercise to those of wheelchair (WCE) ergometer exercise during maximal and submaximal intensities. Maximal exercise was defined as the highest power output (PO) achieved on each ergometer. The submaximal responses were compared at an equivalent absolute (PO=25W) and relative (66 VO2max) intensity. On separate days and in random sequence, 9 untrained able-bodied women performed a discontinuous incremental test for peak VO2 using either ACE or WCE. Each exercise bout was ca. six minutes, interspersed with four-minute rest periods. VO2 and heart rate were measured during each stage of the test and blood lactate concentrations were measured five minutes postexercise. Peak PO ventilation, and HR were significantly higher on ACE, with no significant difference in peak VO2 or postexercise blood lactate concentration. When compared at equivalent submaximal PO levels, VO2, VE2, and HR were significantly higher on WCE than on ACE. In contrast, ACE elicited a higher PO at an equivalent relative metabolic load (66 VO2max). These results suggest that in women WCE is less metabolically efficient than ACE at submaximal intensities. However, at maximal intensity, ACE exercise imposes greater central circulatory stress. The findings that a higher peak HR was elicited by ACE than WCE suggest that exercise testing needs to be ergometer-specific when the results are to be used for exercise prescription. Verf.-Referat