title: One-leg cycling versus arm cranking: which is most appropriate for physical conditioning after knee surgery?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the cardiorespiratory responses, blood lactate concentration and perceived exertion between 1-leg cycling and arm cranking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of exercise modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen men who had undergone knee surgery were evaluated during rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each patient performed 2 maximal graded tests: 1-leg cycling and arm cranking exercise, with a 7-day interval. Respiratory gas exchange, heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak power output, peak minute ventilation, peak oxygen uptake (Vo(2)peak), and peak heart rate did not differ significantly between 1-leg cycling and arm cranking. The first and second ventilatory thresholds occurred at above 40% and 72% of Vo(2)peak, respectively, in both tests. The maximal lactate concentrations and the RPE values were significantly higher during arm cranking (+10%, +12%, respectively, P<.05) compared with corresponding 1-leg cycling values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The maximal cardiorespiratory values were not different between arm cranking and 1-leg cycling. However, the RPE and blood lactate concentration were lower when the exercise was performed with the lower limb. Thus 1-leg cycling may be more easily tolerated than arm cranking by patients participating in aerobic conditioning after knee surgery.
authors.affiliation: Polyclinique de Riaumont, Liévin, France. oliviern@neuf.fr
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rogez
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berthoin
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prieur
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weissland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001132:Arm; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates