Physiological and perceptual responses to sprint interval exercise using arm versus leg cycling ergometry

Todd A Astorino; Shealin Pierce; Madisen B Piva; Richard S Metcalfe; Niels B J Vollaard

doi:10.1016/j.smhs.2024.01.007

Physiological and perceptual responses to sprint interval exercise using arm versus leg cycling ergometry

Sports Med Health Sci. 2024 Feb 6;6(4):385-393. doi: 10.1016/j.smhs.2024.01.007. eCollection 2024 Dec.

Authors

Todd A Astorino¹, Shealin Pierce¹, Madisen B Piva¹, Richard S Metcalfe², Niels B J Vollaard³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology, CSU-San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, USA.
² Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) Research Center, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.

Abstract

Increases in power output and maximal oxygen consumption ( $\dot{V} O_{2}$ max) occur in response to sprint interval exercise (SIE), but common use of "all-out" intensities presents a barrier for many adults. Furthermore, lower-body SIE is not feasible for all adults. We compared physiological and perceptual responses to supramaximal, but "non-all-out" SIE between leg and arm cycling exercise. Twenty-four active adults (mean ± SD age: [25 ± 7] y; cycling $\dot{V} O_{2}$ max: [39 ± 7] mL·kg^-1·min^-1) performed incremental exercise using leg (LCE) and arm cycle ergometry (ACE) to determine $\dot{V} O_{2}$ max and maximal work capacity (Wmax). Subsequently, they performed four 20 s bouts of SIE at 130% Wmax on the LCE or ACE at cadence = 120-130 rev/min, with 2 min recovery between intervals. Gas exchange data, heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BLa), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and affective valence were acquired. Data showed significantly lower (p < 0.001) absolute mean ([1.24 ± 0.31] L·min^-1 vs. [1.59 ± 0.34] L·min^-1; d = 1.08) and peak $\dot{V} O_{2}$ ([1.79 ± 0.48] L·min^-1 vs. [2.10 ± 0.44] L·min^-1; d = 0.70) with ACE versus LCE. However, ACE elicited significantly higher (p < 0.001) relative mean ([62% ± 9%] $\dot{V} O_{2}$ max vs. [57% ± 7%] $\dot{V} O_{2}$ max, d = 0.63) and peak $\dot{V} O_{2}$ ([88% ± 10%] $\dot{V} O_{2}$ max vs. [75% ± 10%] $\dot{V} O_{2}$ max, d = 1.33). Post-exercise BLa was significantly higher ([7.0 ± 1.7] mM vs. [5.7 ± 1.5] mM, p = 0.024, d = 0.83) for LCE versus ACE. There was no significant effect of modality on RPE or affective valence (p > 0.42), and lowest affective valence recorded (2.0 ± 1.8) was considered "good to fairly good". Data show that non "all-out" ACE elicits lower absolute but higher relative HR and $\dot{V} O_{2}$ compared to LCE. Less aversive perceptual responses could make this non-all-out modality feasible for inactive adults.

Keywords: Blood lactate concentration; High intensity interval training; Oxygen uptake; Peak power output; Upper body exercise.