Arm cranking to exhaustion resulted in 23% lower peak cardiac output and 20% lower stroke volume, but 22% higher mean blood pressure compared to leg pedalling.
Observational (n=9)
Does incremental upright arm cranking compared to leg pedalling alter central and peripheral hemodynamics in exercising males?
Arm exercise elicits higher cardiovascular strain and different regional conductance adjustments compared to leg exercise, despite a lower peak cardiac output.
In humans, arm exercise is known to elicit larger increases in arterial blood pressure (BP) than leg exercise. However, the precise regulation of regional vascular conductances (VC) for the distribution of cardiac output with exercise intensity remains unknown. Hemodynamic responses were assessed during incremental upright arm cranking (AC) and leg pedalling (LP) to exhaustion (Wmax) in nine males. Systemic VC, peak cardiac output (Qpeak) (indocyanine green) and stroke volume (SV) were 18%, 23%, and 20% lower during AC than LP. The mean BP, the rate-pressure product and the associated myocardial oxygen demand were 22%, 12%, and 14% higher, respectively, during maximal AC than LP. Trunk VC was reduced to similar values at Wmax. At Wmax, muscle mass-normalized VC and fractional O2 extraction were lower in the arm than the leg muscles. However, this was compensated for during AC by raising perfusion pressure to increase O2 delivery, allowing a similar peak VO2 per kg of muscle mass in both extremities. In summary, despite a lower Qpeak during arm cranking the cardiovascular strain is much higher than during leg pedalling. The adjustments of regional conductances during incremental exercise to exhaustion depend mostly on the relative intensity of exercise and are limb-specific.
Calbet et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Exercising humans (n=9). Arm cranking vs. Leg pedalling was evaluated on Hemodynamic responses (systemic vascular conductance, peak cardiac output, stroke volume, mean blood pressure). Arm cranking to exhaustion resulted in 23% lower peak cardiac output and 20% lower stroke volume, but 22% higher mean blood pressure compared to leg pedalling.