Effects of standing cycling and the use of toe stirrups on maximal oxygen uptake

  • Kiyoji Tanaka
  • Fumio Nakadomo
  • Toshio Moritani
Article
Accepted:

Summary

Twenty-eight subjects (6 normal men, 14 distance runners, and 8 rowers) were tested for maximal oxygen uptake (\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \)) and associated physiological measures during bicycle ergometer exercise with toe stirrups while standing (BEts) and during treadmill exercise (TM). Correlation between BEts \(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) and TM \(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) was high (r=0.901, p<0.05). No significant difference existed between the two \(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) values (60.3±8.9 vs. 60.5±9.7 ml · kg−1 · min−1; n=28). No differences were found even when three different subgroups were separately compared. It is concluded that the higher \(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) elicited during BEts as compared with normal sitting cycling may be attributed to the increased muscle blood flow and/ or involvement of a larger muscle mass, the latter being partly evidenced by the observation of greater electrornyographic activity during BEts.

Key words

Standing cycling Toe stirrups Maximal oxygen uptake Electromyogram 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1987

Authors and Affiliations

  • Kiyoji Tanaka
    • 1
  • Fumio Nakadomo
    • 2
  • Toshio Moritani
    • 3
  1. 1.Division of Exercise Physiology, Department of Health Science and Physical Education, School of Liberal ArtsOsaka City UniversityOsaka
  2. 2.Division of Exercise PhysiologyOsaka Prefectural College of NursingOsaka
  3. 3.Human Performance LaboratoryKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan

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