J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2009 Oct;33(5):584-590.

Comparison of Energy Expenditure and Walking Performance by Arm Cycling and Leg Cycling Exercise

• Bae BW
• Lee DS
• Seo YJ
• Baek JH
• Kim ES
• Park HS
• Cho SR

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of cycling ergometry and to compare energy expenditure and walking performance after arm cycling with those after leg cycling in patients with brain diseases. METHOD: Twenty-two adults with brain diseases (6 stroke, 4 traumatic brain injury, 4 brain tumor, 4 parkinsonism, 4 cerebral palsy) were recruited as subjects. They were randomly assigned to disease-matched groups; arm cycling and leg cycling (n=11 each). VO2 (L/min), VCO2 (L/min), VE (L/min), O2 rate (ml/kg, min), O2 pulse (ml/kg, bpm), O2 cost (ml/kg, m) and VO2 peak (ml/kg, min) during cycling test or walking test, and walking performance were evaluated after cycling training for 4~6 weeks.
RESULTS
Arm cycling exercise did not improve any parameters such as VO2, VCO2, O2 rate and O2 cost during walking test, whereas it increased VCO2, VE and O2 pulse during cycling test. In contrast, leg cycling significantly improved walking velocity and distance, and decreased O2 cost during walking test. It also increased all parameters including VO2 peak during cycling test (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Leg cycling exercise improved walking performance and energy efficiency of walking as well as cardiorespiratory fitness relative to arm cycling. Therefore, leg cycling promoted lower-extremity task such as walking in patients with brain diseases.

Keyword

Ergometry; Exercise; Energy expenditure; Walking; Brain diseases

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arm
Brain
Brain Diseases
Brain Injuries
Brain Neoplasms
Energy Metabolism
Ergometry
Humans
Leg
Parkinsonian Disorders
Stroke
Walking