title: Motor-Driven (Passive) Cycling: A Potential Physical Inactivity Countermeasure?
abstract: We have previously shown that motor-driven (passive) stationary cycling elevates energy expenditure (EE).
  
  
  
  This study aimed to quantify how acute passive cycling affects glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and basic cognition compared with sitting and moderate-intensity active cycling.
  
  
  
  Twenty-four physically inactive healthy males completed three trials in randomized order involving 30-min conditions of sitting, passive cycling, and moderate-intensity cycling. During each condition, EE was measured, and participants performed cognitive tests. After each condition, a 2-h OGTT was performed.
  
  
  
  EE was significantly higher during the cycling conditions compared with sitting (1.36 ± 0.58 and 6.50 ± 1.73 kcal·min greater than sitting for passive and moderate-intensity, respectively). A significant correlation was found between body fat percentage and postsitting OGTT 2-h postplasma glucose (r = 0.30, P < 0.05); thus, participants were divided into lean (n = 11) and nonlean (n = 13) groups. In the nonlean group, compared with sitting, passive cycling lowered 2-h postplasma glucose (7.7 ± 1.3 vs 6.9 ± 1.6 mmol·L, respectively, P < 0.05), and the Matsuda whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) was higher (2.74 ± 0.86 vs 3.36 ± 1.08, P < 0.05). In addition, passive and moderate-intensity cycling had similar beneficial effects on 2-h postplasma glucose and WBISI. Cognitive performance did not significantly differ between the sitting and passive cycling conditions.
  
  
  
  Two-hour postplasma glucose was lower and WBISI after acute passive cycling was higher in nonlean participants. Given that and the increase in EE without changes in cognitive performance, we propose passive cycling as a promising intervention to counteract some of the deleterious effects of prolonged sitting in the workplace.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO; 2Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO; and 3Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Peterman
authors.forename: Kenneth P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Melanson
authors.forename: Rodger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kram
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Byrnes
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D055815:Young Adult