VO2 Kinetics During Different Forms of Cycling Exercise on Land and in Water.
Rates of gas exchange reflect the relationship between O2 delivery and O2 uptake. They allow for an indirect assessment of the relationship of muscle blood flow and muscle oxygen uptake.19 The present study tested the hypothesis, that coupling arm with leg exercise would increase metabolic load and the extra O2-cost (∆VO2) in W would be similar to L; furthermore hemodynamic changes in W would improve O2-extraction capacity.
This is the case if the onset of anaerobiosis – determined by the gas exchange method (excess CO2 above ventilatory threshold two; VT2) – for the particular workload occurs at a higher VO2
.The gas exchange measurements are relevant regarding energy generated from aerobic and anaerobic sources and energy metabolism. Aquatic exercise is a common and alternative method
to land based exercise. Persons suffering from dysfunctions of the skeletal mucles and/or obesity will benefit from a change in the dynamics of VO2 depending on a beneficial distribution of the blood flow in the muscles.
Studies which adress arm contribution give evidence that sympathetic nerve activity regulates blood pressure at the expense of flow.13,14 When adding arm exercise to on-going leg exercise the Cardiac Output (CO) level can be restricted. MAP regulated by peripheral vasoconstriction can be a disadvantage with regard to muscle blood flow and oxygenation. This study illustrates the importance of the selection of the correct exercise intensity in W. The application of exercise intensities assessed on L leads to an overload in W.
Sport Exerc Med Open J. 2015; 1(2): 64-70. doi: 10.17140/SEMOJ-1-110
