One-leg cycling versus arm cranking: which is most appropriate for physical conditioning after knee surgery?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cardiorespiratory responses, blood lactate concentration and perceived exertion between 1-leg cycling and arm cranking.

DESIGN: Comparison of exercise modalities.

SETTING: Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen men who had undergone knee surgery were evaluated during rehabilitation.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 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.