title: Cardiorespiratory responses during functional electrical stimulation cycling and electrical stimulation isometric exercise.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective experimental.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the cardiorespiratory responses with electrical stimulation (ES) producing either dynamic leg cycling or intermittent isometric leg contractions using the same ES protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sydney, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight paraplegics (T4-T11) performed ES exercise sessions on two separate days. On day 1, cardiorespiratory responses were measured during 5 min of rest followed by 35 min of cycling, and finally 15 min of intermittent isometric exercise using the same ES parameters. On the second day, after 5 min of rest, 35 min of isometric exercise was performed followed by 15 min of cycling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences during the first 35 min of exercise on each day comparing the two modes of exercise for average rate of oxygen consumption (cycling, 534±128 ml min(-1); isometric 558±146 ml min(-1); P=0.451), the average heart rate (cycling, 93±15 b.p.m.; isometric 95±17 b.p.m.; P=0.264) or minute ventilation (cycling, 23.0±6.5 l min(-1); isometric 23.8±6.7 l min(-1); P=0.655). In addition, there were no significant differences between exercise modes for any peak cardiorespiratory values recorded during the initial 35 min of exercise or the following 15 min crossover exercise phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current data found that intermittent ES leg isometric exercise elicited a similar cardiorespiratory response compared with functional ES leg cycling, suggesting it should be investigated as a viable alternative intervention for increasing whole body metabolic rate during sustained exercise training sessions for individuals with paralyzed muscles.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Health and Performance Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fornusek
authors.affiliation: Exercise Health and Performance Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Gwinn
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors