“COMPARISON OF MAXIMAL OXYGEN CONSUMPTION BETWEEN
SEATED AND STANDING LEG CYCLE ERGOMETRY: A PRACTICAL
ANALYSIS”
ABSTRACT
Exercise Physiology continues to expand its interest in fitness and rehabilitation
resulting in an increase in exhibitions of research. (Powers, 2012) Proper training
practices are revealed through exercise physiology examination. Positive benefits are
made toward exercise prescription through trails in research. The evaluation of both
subjects, male and female, of average physical activity performing sitting and standing
leg cycling ergometry with increasing resistance per minute until volitional exhaustion
provides metabolic data through trials to achieve a true VO2max. The maximal amount of
oxygen uptake, VO2max, is measured to determine aerobic endurance and is assessed by
testing subjects during intense bouts of exercise. Leg ergometry is a traditional scientific
method of testing lower body performance capacity exercises, specifically leading to
exhaustion. (Bosak,A., Green, J., Crew, T., & Deere, R.,2008)
The purpose of testing subjects is to determine any differentiation of maximal
oxygen consumption during seated and standing leg cycle ergometry between male and
females the subjects. Demographics of subjects such as weight (measured by detecto
balance type scale), height (with the attachment measuring rod), 3-site skin fold for body
fat percentage (by Lange skinfold calipers), and brief fitness ability was assessed.
Subjects were then observed during two tests, sit and stand leg cycle ergometry, occurring
on two separate days with three to seven days between each session. Both parties wore
Hans Rudolph facemask to analyze VO2max when monitored during cycling on 824E
Monark Cycle Ergometer and a Polar Heart Rate Monitor during testing to oversee heart
rate.
Subjects concluded testing and finished with a two-minute cool down. Significant
physiological responses and percent increases were seen between sit and stand leg
ergometry testing. VO2maxSTD was greater than VO2maxSIT and HRSTD was significantly greater
than HRSIT, however, VE, VESTD was not significantly different. The subjects’ cycled until
volitional exhaustion and endured additional cycle time when completing STD with little
significance between the leg cycle ergometry, STD and SIT. The finding suggest that
STD performance permits greater VO2max.
This study was conducted in pursuit for protocol of exercise modalities relating to
assessment of human performance. (Bosak,A., Green, J., Crew, T., & Deere, R.,2008)The
maximal oxygen consumption during the Sit to Stand testing relates to aerobic capacity.
Testing was initiated to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness, methods to improve aerobic
power, and descriptive characteristics such sex differences and age.
INTRODUCTION
VO2max represents the highest rate at which oxygen can be consumed and utilized
to produce energy during aerobic activity. (Bosak,A., Green, J., Crew, T., & Deere,
R.,2008)It measures and evaluates efforts during exertion when preforming exercise.
Assessments, such as leg ergometry, are used for training purposes to help comprehend
aerobic fitness using gas exchange analysis. (Bosak,A., Green, J., Crew, T., & Deere,
R.,2008) Leg cycle ergometry is a common field test device applied in a clinical setting to
measure lower body strength. Few studies have used a sit to stand test to assess aerobic
fitness. (Bosak,A., Green, J., Crew, T., & Deere, R.,2008)
The methods of repetitive cycling motions against resistance are performed by each
subject. Intensities are adjusted during both sit and stand exercises. Subjects, both male
and female, of average fitness levels were used to determine the difference of maximal
oxygen consumption during seated and standing leg ergometry. (Basset and Howely,
2000) The cadence and deviations in intensity of leg cycle ergometry fosters a high
volume of oxygen uptake during standing leg cycle ergometry.
Leg ergometry testing is growing fast and several studies to date have assessed
VO2max. The present study was designed to test physiological responses during sit and
stand leg cycle ergometry. As a gold standard, VO2max has been used to assess various
modes such as treadmill, rowing, and cycle ergometry for aerobic fitness. Treadmill
exercise yields a higher VO2max compared to seated leg cycle ergometry. However, leg
cycle ergometry has more advantages. (Bosak,A., Green, J., Crew, T., & Deere, R.,2008)
Methods of manipulation have been applied to leg cycle ergometry to elicit higher
VO2max values. (McLester, J.R., Green, J.M., and Chouinard, J.L.,2004) Descriptive
characteristics can affect VO2max values. Individuals that train in cycling versus
untrained individuals in cycling can produce a higher VO2max. Subject selection when
examining standing cycle ergometry should be fulfilled with preference of the subjects
within similar fitness levels, genders, and age. (Basset and Howely, 2000) Likeness of
subjects increases validity when comparing standing and sitting VO2max values which is
unclear in previous research. Protocols for standing vary in duration, cadence, fitness
levels of subjects, and number of subjects. Variances in techniques and processes play a
role in the conflicting results. Ultimately, the purpose of the study was to compare the
differences in stand and sit leg cycle ergometry in male and female subjects.
DISCUSSION
Results suggest that maximal oxygen intake was significantly greater during
testing of leg ergometry when the subjects were standing opposed to sitting. Movement
and respiration influence muscle contraction of the skeletal muscle fibers. (Powers, 2012)
Individual fibers and their subcategories are typed by the cells chemical components.
Slow twitch, fast twitch, and fast twitch subcategories of type IIa and IIx differ in
contractile properties. (Powers,2012). Both methods of leg ergometry involved
movement but standing requirement more muscle contraction of skeletal muscle fibers
which in turn influenced the increase in heart rate and respiration. (Powers,2012)
The subjects heart rate during stand was significantly greater than their heart rate
during sit. The results prove to be logical because a greater amount of effort is exerted
during stand leg cycle ergometry. Opposed to sitting, standing requires more force output
in leg cycling to maintain stability. (Habibi, E. 2014) Since there are more muscle groups
that are in play there is more work being done. An increase in heart rate, blood flow, and
oxygen intake is needed to supply the total participation of muscles. (Powers, 2012)
The heart rate for stand was significantly greater than sit along with the RER. The
increases in both heart rate and RER are contributed to by the increase of resistance until
exhaustion during the cycle testing. However, For VE, VESTD was not significantly
different. This could be due to fatigue of the subject during riding. The cadence and
resistance increase as the duration of the test increased. The longer the leg cycling
session, the more work the subject has done. The comparison reveals that standing leg
ergometry was able to produce higher physiological changes in terms of performance and
training. McLester, J.R., Green, J.M., and Chouinard, J.L. (2004) Testing considered a
relationship between an exercise modality such as leg cycle ergometry and aerobic
fitness. Greater muscle recruitment is required during standing leg cycle ergometry.
(Habibi, E. 2014)
Specific training programs cause physiological adaptations of the muscles and
energy systems that lead to improved performance. During endurance and resistance
training, adequate blood delivery along with appropriate increases in ATP production are
responsible for performance development and improvement. Other factors such as the
number of repetitions, the duration, and frequency of training aid in specification of
certain muscle fiber stimulation. (Powers,2012). A key function of skeletal muscles is the
force production for movement and respiration. The benefits of the current study were the
inclusion of females test subjects and standing cycle ergometry.
Compared to previous results of similar testing the suggestion has not changed in
that stand heart rate and VO2max are significantly greater than that of sit. It is thought
that greater force production, fatigue during stand, and joint angle of subject during stand
explains the greater heart rate and VO2max. Little significance was shown during RER
sit compared to stand RER with sit RER being greater. A limitation, or weakness, is noted
that variability in subjects may be the reasoning behind STD protocol. There is too much
differentiation between those who would respond to each testing protocols.
CONCLUSION
These findings can be used to support performance testing for both male and
female test subjects. A greater VO2max is seen during standing compared to sitting. The
results can support performance testing used to assess aerobic capacities. The test
contributes to subjects who are capable of performing sitting and standing without
complications. Exploring methods to achieve highest cycling VO2max supports the use
of standing cycle ergometer protocol for exercise in sport-performance laboratories. In
the future testing can be done to elicit higher VO2max for subjects who do not have the
ability to stand.
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