Oxygen uptake during arm cranking with and without leg electrical stimulation in able bodied individuals

Abstract

Ten able bodied subjects (AB) volunteered to be tested with a Respond II neuromuscular stimulator applied to the lower extremities during submaximal arm crank exercise (ACE) to determine its effect on heart rate (min−1) and VO2 in ml·min−1 ·kg−1. One to two hours after a maximal ACE test, subjects performed four 9‐minute submaximal bouts of ACE; two at 25% and two at 70% of VO2peak. Each work rate was performed with and without, a randomly ordered, electrical stimulation (ES) of the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups respectively. Electrical stimulation intensity was determined by a subject's maximal tolerance. Data, from four submaximum tests were analyzed with a two 2×2 repeated measures analysis of variance. The main effects were work rate (25% VO2peak and 70% VO2peak) and electrical stimulation (STIM) no stimulation (NOSTIM). No statistical differences was found between the STIM and NOSTIM in VO2 or heart rate at either 25% VO2peak (11.0 ml·min−1·kg−1 vs. 11.2 ml·min−1·kg−1; and 89 min−1 vs. 88 mi...