Specific and transfer effects induced by arm or leg training

The purpose of the present study was to examine both the specific and the t ransfer effects of a Square Wave Endurance Exercise Test (SWEET) and to inv estigate the determining factors of transfer effect. A control group (CG, n = 5) and 2 experimental groups were studied. Experimental groups completed 3 days/ week a 45 min SWEET over 6 weeks, either with the arms using a whe elchair ergometer (AG, n = 5) or with the legs using a cycling ergometer (L G, n = 5). All subjects performed before and after training two maximal pro gressive tests: the first one with the arms and the second with the legs. D uring those tests oxygen uptake (VO2) and cardiorespiratory parameters were continuously measured. Specific effects (changes between the tests perform ed with trained limbs) were observed: the peak power output (W) and VO2 wer e significantly increased by both arm (+66%, +35%) and leg (+17%, +14%) tra ining. At ventilatory threshold (VT), power output (W) and VO2 were signifi cantly increased with arm (+145% and +51%) and leg (+53% and +46%) training . Transfer effects (changes between pre and post tests performed with untra ined limbs) were observed: W-P and VO2 were not increased in AG while W-P w as increased in LG (+ 11 %). At VT, W and VO2 were increased with arm (+19% and +23%) and leg (+33% and +46%) training. For AG and LG the VO2 expresse d in percent of the VO2 peak was increased (+19% and +33%, respectively) an d the O-2p was also increased (+30%) for LG. These results show that SWEET training induced specific and transfer effects. Moreover, the initial level of the subjects, the type and the intensity of the training seem to be the major factors for effective observable transfer effects.