One-day low-intensity combined arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer exercise intervention: cardiorespiratory strain and gross mechanical efficiency in one-legged and two-legged exercise

This study aims to research whether there is a difference in cardiorespiratory variables and gross mechanical efficiency (GE) in healthy individuals during low-intensity one-legged and two-legged exercise on the combined arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer and whether motor learning occurs. The outcome of this study will support the use of the Cruiser ergometer in future as a testing and training instrument in the rehabilitation of patients with a lower limb amputation. Twenty-eight healthy men participated in this randomized-controlled trial. One group (n=14) used one leg and both arms during the exercise and the other group (n=14) used both legs and both arms. All participants performed a 1-day low-intensity exercise protocol. This included a standardized pretest and post-test of three bouts of 4min exercise at 40W and an exercise intervention of seven bouts of 2x4min exercise at 40W. The one-legged and two-legged group differed significantly in the heart rate and GE between the pretest and post-test. At the post-test, the one-legged group showed motor learning. GE improved significantly in both groups over the duration of the three exercise bouts of the pretest, but it did not improve during the post-test. There are differences in cardiorespiratory variables and GE between one-legged and two-legged exercise on the Cruiser ergometer. When using this ergometer in the rehabilitation of patients with a lower limb amputation, it is important to consider these differences and the occurrence of motor learning

Evaluation inertielle : état de la question et perspectives

L'évaluation musculaire inertielle : revue générale, perspectives d'utilisation. Les procédés simples d'évaluation avec du matériel de musculation; l'évaluation inertielle dynamométrique, son intérêt pour l'évaluation de la force, de la puissance musculaire, de la vitesse et de l'endurance musculaires, pour étudier la fatigabilité musculaire ou pour analyser la cinétique des mouvement

Energetic costs of incidental visual coupling during treadmill running.

Purpose: To determine the role of visual-spatial information in stabilizing movement during treadmill locomotion. Methods: Physiological, biomechanical, and psychological indices of coordination stability were recorded while participants were visually coupled with a whole-body image of themselves during treadmill locomotion. Ten participants ran on a treadmill under three visual conditions: two dynamic images (symmetrical, mirror image; asymmetrical, reversed mirror image) and one static. Performance was examined at two speeds. Results: Participants ran more economically (mL·kg·min -1) when they were visually coupled with a symmetrical rather than with an asymmetrical or static image. An asymmetrical coupling resulted in increased variability in footfall position at the faster speed, in comparison to the symmetrical and static conditions. However, at slower speeds, footfall variability and frequency were higher under both dynamic visual conditions in comparison to the static control. Changes in metabolic economy (mL·kg·min-1) were only partially mediated by movement kinematics. Conclusion: Visual information influences treadmill locomotion and associated measures of stability even when there is no intention to coordinate with external stimuli