Exercise intensity-dependent effects of arm and leg-cycling on cognitive performance

Physiological responses to arm and leg-cycling are different, which may influence psychological and biological mechanisms that influence post-exercise cognitive performance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of maximal and submaximal (absolute and relative intensity matched) arm and leg-cycling on executive function. Thirteen males (age, 24.7 ± 5.0 years) initially undertook two incremental exercise tests to volitional exhaustion for arm-cycling (82 ± 18 W) and leg-cycling (243 ± 52 W) for the determination of maximal power output. Participants subsequently performed three 20-min constant load exercise trials: (1) arm-cycling at 50% of the ergometer-specific maximal power output (41 ± 9 W), (2) leg-cycling at 50% of the ergometer-specific maximal power output (122 ± 26 W), and (3) leg-cycling at the same absolute power output as the submaximal arm-cycling trial (41 ± 9 W). An executive function task was completed before, immediately after and 15-min after each exercise test. Exhaustive leg-cycling increased reaction time (p 0.05). Improvements in reaction time following arm-cycling were maintained for at least 15-min post exercise (p = 0.008, d = -0.73). Arm and leg-cycling performed at the same relative intensity elicit comparable improvements in cognitive performance. These findings suggest that individuals restricted to arm exercise possess a similar capacity to elicit an exercise-induced cognitive performance benefit

Home-based arm cycling exercise improves trunk control in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury:an observational study

Arm cycling is used for cardiorespiratory rehabilitation but its therapeutic effects on the neural control of the trunk after spinal cord injury (SCI) remain unclear. We investigated the effects of single session of arm cycling on corticospinal excitability, and the feasibility of home-based arm cycling exercise training on volitional control of the erector spinae (ES) in individuals with incomplete SCI. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, we assessed motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the ES before and after 30 min of arm cycling in 15 individuals with SCI and 15 able-bodied controls (Experiment 1). Both groups showed increased ES MEP size after the arm cycling. The participants with SCI subsequently underwent a 6-week home-based arm cycling exercise training (Experiment 2). MEP amplitudes and activity of the ES, and movements of the trunk during reaching, self-initiated rapid shoulder flexion, and predicted external perturbation tasks were measured. After the training, individuals with SCI reached further and improved trajectory of the trunk during the rapid shoulder flexion task, accompanied by increased ES activity and MEP amplitudes. Exercise adherence was excellent. We demonstrate preserved corticospinal drive after a single arm cycling session and the effects of home-based arm cycling exercise training on trunk function in individuals with SCI.</p

Characterization of arm muscle activity levels during cycling at various relative workloads

Arm cycling is an effective mode of rehabilitation, exercise, and transportation. Previous studies aimed at examining the neuromuscular control of arm cycling typically use a standard workload (e.g. 25W) as opposed to relative workloads for each participant. This may be problematic given that many measures of neuromuscular excitability are intensity-dependent and a standard workload likely represents different effort levels for each participant. The purpose of this study was to examine and characterize the arm muscles during arm cycling at various relative workloads. While the present thesis is not a detailed examination of the neuromuscular physiology of arm cycling it may be an important step in normalizing the manner in which arm cycling studies are performed, by determining how the muscles respond to increases in relative workloads during arm cycling. With the use of surface electromyography, it is possible to determine an appropriate relative workload. This will allow us to improve current basic research examining the neural control of arm cycling and may also be important for rehabilitative and therapeutic practices for individuals with a neurological injury or impairment

ACUTE CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO NOVEL COMBINATIONS OF RESISTANCE AND AEROBIC EXERCISE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. One of the most effective forms of prevention and treatment is physical activity. However, recent studies have suggested that resistance exercise can increase arterial stiffness. Maintaining adequate strength is critical for performing activities of daily living, occupational-related tasks, and sport movements. The purpose of this project was to determine if novel combinations of resistance and aerobic exercise could offer musculoskeletal benefits without adverse cardiovascular consequences. In Study 1, we examined the effect of order (i.e. aerobic before resistance, or resistance before aerobic) on arterial stiffness when combining these exercise modes in a single training session. In Study 2, we compared the effects of acute eccentric and concentric arm cycling on central and peripheral arterial stiffness. Eccentric arm cycling is a unique combination of resistance and aerobic exercise. We hypothesized that these novel combinations of resistance and aerobic exercise would not cause arterial stiffening as observed in resistance exercise alone. In Study 1, we concluded performing resistance before aerobic to be the more beneficial exercise order in terms of arterial stiffness. In Study 2, we found that eccentric arm cycling reduces arterial stiffness in the arm, but not centrally. Collectively, our results suggest that the key to reducing the negative effects of resistance exercise on arterial function is to combine it with aerobic exercise, either first within a single session or simultaneously

Effect of visual feedback assisted arm cycling training in improving the upper extremity function among the individuals with acute stroke - An Experimental study.

OBJECTIVE : Impaired upper limb function is the most common consequences of middle cerebral artery stroke, which limits the performance of activities of daily living. The motor recovery of the upper limb in hemiplegic stroke patients can be improved significantly by repetitive arm training at the initial phase of rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of visual feedback assisted arm cycling training in improving upper limb function among the individuals with acute stroke. STUDY DESIGN : Two groups Pre test – Post test experimental study design. PARTICIPANTS : Twenty middle cerebral artery acute stroke patients of both sexes between 40-65 years who meet the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly assigned into two groups, conventional physiotherapy group and arm cycling group. Each group contained 10 subjects. INTERVENTION : Both the groups were treated with conventional physiotherapy training for an 45 to 60 minutes a day, with arm cycling group received additional 30 minutes of arm cycling training. OUTCOME MEASURES : Upper limb function was assessed by Fugl-Meyer scale – upper limb component and Stream scale – upper limb component before the commencement and 3weeks after the training. RESULTS : At baseline subjects in both groups were closely similar. After the intervention both groups showed statistically significant differences on Fugl-Meyer and Stream scale. By comparing the mean value of improvement in both groups, arm cycling group showed more significant improvement than the conventional group in both outcome measurements. CONCLUSION : This study revealedthat there is significant improvement of arm cycling training in improving the upper limb function among the individuals with acute stroke

Phase- and workload-dependent changes in corticospinal excitability to the biceps and triceps brachii during arm cycling

Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex and transmastoid electrical stimulation of the corticospinal tract can be used to assess changes in supraspinal and spinal excitability, respectively. These techniques have been used previously to determine differences in the neural control of isometric contractions compared to locomotor outputs. It has been shown that corticospinal excitability to the biceps brachii is not only different between isometric contractions and locomotor outputs, but also different during multiple cadences of arm cycling. This suggests that changes in workload, another method of changing intensity during arm cycling, may also result in differences in corticospinal excitability. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in corticospinal excitability between the biceps and triceps brachii during different relative workloads of arm cycling

A pilot study of a single intermittent arm cycling exercise programme on people affected by Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD)

For patients affected by Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD), alternate methods for increasing physical activity engagement that may benefit shoulder function and wider health are needed. Arm cycling has been proposed as a potential method for achieving this although dosage parameters and evidence is limited. The aim of this study was to conduct a pilot study evaluating the effect of a single intermittent arm cycling exercise programme on people affected by FSHD. People with confirmed genetic diagnosis of FSHD between the ages 18–60 years were recruited to attend a single session for the exercise intervention (5 exercise efforts lasting 2 minutes each with 30 seconds of rest between each effort). Prior to exercise, measures of shoulder function (Oxford shoulder score), strength and range of movement were recorded. During the exercise participants were video recorded to quantify range of movement and extract movement profile features. Participants comments were recorded and followed up four days later to check for adverse events. Fifteen participants, (6F:9M) were recruited with median (IQR) Oxford Shoulder Scores of 25 (18 to 39). All participants successfully completed the exercise intervention with only transient symptoms consistent with exercise being reported and achieving a median (IQR) rate of perceived exertion scores of 13 (12 to 13). Movement profile data was available for 12 out of 15 participants and suggests that exercise intensity did not compromise movement. An association between strength and shoulder function (R2 = 0.5147), Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of the final effort against shoulder function and strength (R2 = 0.2344 and 0.1743 respectively) was identified. Participant comments were positive regarding the exercise intervention. Our study demonstrates that an intermittent arm cycling programme is feasible for people affected by FSHD. Further work is needed to evaluate physiological responses to exercise across variations in programme variables and equipment set up in a larger sample of people affected by FSHD.Funder: The Orthopaedic Institute Limited; Grant(s): RPG16

Examining neuromuscular fatigue of the elbow flexors during maximal arm cycling sprints in a pronated and supinated forearm position

During high intensity exercise, an individual’s ability to generate and maintain force is decreased resulting in a decline in muscle performance. This decrease in force is referred to as neuromuscular fatigue (NMF). There have been several studies examining NMF during maximal leg cycling sprints. Maximal repeated leg cycling sprints have been shown to induce peripheral fatigue early and this fatigue persists throughout the sprints, while central fatigue occurs towards the end of the sprints. To date, only one study has examined the effects of maximal arm cycling sprints on NMF and similar patterns of peripheral and central fatigue have been reported. Many studies have shown that the specific task being performed can alter NMF. For example, the development of NMF has been shown to be different during maximal running and leg cycling exercises at the same workload. This suggests that NMF appears to develop differently depending on the specific action of the muscles involved. Although not examining NMF, two studies have examined the effect of forearm position during constant load arm cycling. These studies found that forearm position can influence muscular activity and brain and spinal cord excitability during constant load arm cycling. Despite the present research, it is currently unknown if the development of NMF is different following arm cycling sprints in different forearm positions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the development of NMF during repeated arm cycling sprints in pronated and supinated forearm positions. This study add to the current understanding of how NMF influences exercise performance, and may aid in the development of training protocols for rehabilitative and athletic purposes

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

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.ope