PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSES TO ASYNCHRONOUS AND SYNCHRONOUS ARM-CRANKING EXERCISE

The purpose of this study was to examine mechanical efficiency (ME) an d physiological responses during asynchronous (the pedal arms oriented in opposing directions) arm-cranking exercise (AACE) and compare thes e responses to those obtained during synchronous (the pedal arms orien ted in the same direction) arm-cranking exercise (SACE). Ten male subj ects participated in the study and performed two exercise tests, one A ACE and the other SACE in counterbalanced order. Each test consisted o f submaximal (30, 60 and 90 W) and maximal exercise. At 30 W, gross ME was significantly lower during SACE compared to AACE, whereas at 60 W and 90 W no differences between the two types of exercise could be ob served. We found that at lower power output levels the flywheel mass a nd its moment of inertia may have induced more body movements for comp ensation, which may have been more pronounced during SACE than during AACE. At higher levels of power output this flywheel masseffect was le ss, which explained the lack of differences in ME at these levels. Phy siological responses to maximal AACE or SACE exercise were not signifi cantly different. The results indicated that there were no differences in physiological responses to AACE and SACE exercise at higher exerci se intensities. However, at lower levels of power output ME seemed to decrease, most likely as a result of the flywheel-mass effect, which w as more pronounced during SACE.