Comparison of Energy Expenditure and Walking Performance by Arm Cycling and Leg Cycling Exercise

Objective: To investigate the effect of cycling ergometry and to compare energy expenditure and walking performance after arm cycling with those after leg cycling in patients with brain diseases. Method: Twenty-two adults with brain diseases (6 stroke, 4 traumatic brain injury, 4 brain tumor, 4 parkinsonism, 4 cerebral palsy) were recruited as subjects. They were randomly assigned to disease-matched groups; arm cycling and leg cycling (n=11 each). (L/min), (L/min), VE (L/min), rate (ml/kg min), pulse (ml/kg bpm), cost (ml/kg m) and peak (ml/kg min) during cycling test or walking test, and walking performance were evaluated after cycling training for 46 weeks. Results: Arm cycling exercise did not improve any parameters such as , , rate and cost during walking test, whereas it increased , VE and pulse during cycling test. In contrast, leg cycling significantly improved walking velocity and distance, and decreased cost during walking test. It also increased all parameters including peak during cycling test (p