Physiological Responses to Treadmill and Cycle Exercise

Abstract

This study aimed to identify differences in the acute cardio-respiratory, metabolic and perceptual responses between exercise performed on the treadmill and on the cycle ergometer at several intensities. The sample comprised of 20 voluntary male participants (age=22.5±1.8 years; height=177.7±7.0 cm; body mass=72.6±7.9 kg; fat mass=7.87±1.3%) that performed 5 submaximal 8 min exercise bouts, interspersed with a 10 min period of passive recovery. Exercise intensity used on the treadmill was 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16 km/h (0% gradient), and 80, 120, 160, 180 and 200 W on the cycle ergometer (65–70 rpm). There was a significant mode effect and also mode×intensity interaction in oxygen uptake and heart rate with higher values in the treadmill protocol (F=32.0 p=0.000, η²=0.65 and F=132.0 p=0.000, η²=0.88, respectively). The respiratory exchange ratio and blood lactate concentrations were not different across modes (F_{1, 18}=1.9 p=0.183 and F_{1, 17}=0.1 p=0.964, respectively) and rate of perceived exertion values were higher in the cycle ergometer (F_{1, 12}=1.2 p=0.288). Generally, results showed a larger exercise mode effect on the cardio-respiratory variables with higher response patterns on the treadmill, differing according to exercise intensity.

Key words

exercise mode - cardiorespiratory - metabolic - perceptual - ergometers

• References

• 1 Abrantes CI, Sampaio AJ, Reis AM, Duarte JA. Resposta aguda cárdio-respiratória a quatro modos de exercício realizado em ergómetros. Rev Port Cien Desp 2004; 4: 66-77
• 2 Achten J, Venables MC, Jeukendrup AE. Fat oxidation rates are higher during running compared with cycling over a wide range of intensities. Metabolism 2003; 52: 747-752
• 3 ACSM. ACSM Fitness. Book: Human Kinetics; 2003
• 4 Arkinstall MJ, Bruce CR, Nikolopoulos V, Garnham AP, Hawley JA. Effect of carbohydrate ingestion on metabolism during running and cycling. J Appl Physiol 2001; 91: 2125-2134
• 5 Basset FA, Boulay MR. Treadmill and cycle ergometer tests are interchangeable to monitor triathletes annual training. J Sports Sci Med 2003; 2: 110-116
• 6 Bijker KE, De Groot G, Hollander AP. Delta efficiencies of running and cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001; 33: 1546-1551
• 7 Bland JM, Altman DG. Statistics notes. Logarithms. BMJ 1996; 312: 700
• 8 Bland JM, Altman DG. Transforming data. BMJ 1996; 312: 770
• 9 Borg G. Borg’s RPE – Its Value for Sports Testing. New York: Movement Publications; 1985
• 10 Carter H, Jones AM, Barstow TJ, Burnley M, Williams CA, Doust JH. Oxygen uptake kinetics in treadmill running and cycle ergometry: a comparison. J Appl Physiol 2000; 89: 899-907
• 11 Chatterjee S, Chakravarti B. Comparative study of maximum aerobic capacity by three ergometries in untrained college women. Jpn J Physiol 1986; 36: 151-162
• 12 Green JM, Crews TR, Bosak AM, Peveler WW. Overall and differentiated ratings of perceived exertion at the respiratory compensation threshold: effects of gender and mode. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 445-450
• 13 Hansen D, Dendale P, Berger J, Meeusen R. Low agreement of ventilatory threshold between training modes in cardiac patients. Eur J Appl Physiol 2007; 101: 547-554
• 14 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
• 15 Hill DW, Halcomb JN, Stevens EC. Oxygen uptake kinetics during severe intensity running and cycling. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 612-618
• 16 Hopkins WG. A new view of statistics. Dunedin, New Zealand: Sport Science; 2003
• 17 Johnson JH, Phipps LK. Preferred method of selecting exercise intensity in adult women. J Strength Cond Res 2006; 20: 446-449
• 18 Jones AM, McConnell AM. Effect of exercise modality on oxygen uptake kinetics during heavy exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 1999; 80: 213-219
• 19 Katsanos CS, Cheuvront SN, Haymes EM. Energy expenditure relative to perceived exertion: Stationary cycling versus treadmill walking. Res Q Exerc Sport 2001; 72: 176-181
• 20 Kim JK, Nho H, Whaley MH. Inter-modal comparisons of acute energy expenditure during perceptually based exercise in obese adults. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 2008; 54: 39-45
• 21 Koivula N, Hassmen P. Central, local, and overall ratings of perceived exertion during cycling and running by women with an external or internal locus of control. J Gen Psychol 1998; 125: 17-29
• 22 Koyal SN, Whipp BJ, Huntsman D, Bray GA, Wasserman K. Ventilatory responses to metabolic-acidosis of treadmill and cycle ergometry. J Appl Physiol 1976; 40: 864-867
• 23 Kravitz L, Robergs RA, Heyward VH, Wagner DR, Powers K. Exercise mode and gender comparisons of energy expenditure at self-selected intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1997; 29: 1028-1035
• 24 Manore M, Manore M, Meyer N, Thompson J. Sport Nutrition for Health and Performance. Human Kinetics; 2009
• 25 Mayo J, Kravitz L, Chitwood L, Kinzey SJ, Waters W, Wongsathikun J. Cardiovascular responses to combined arm and leg exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31: S152
• 26 McGarvey W, Jones R, Petersen S. Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption following continuous and interval cycling exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2005; 15: 28-37
• 27 McMurray RG, Harrell JS, Bangdiwala SI, Deng SB, Baggett C. Factors contributing to the energy expenditure of youth during cycling and running. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2003; 15: 67-82
• 28 Medelli J, Maingourd Y, Bouferrache B, Bach V, Freville M, Libert JP. Maximal oxygen-uptake and aerobic-anaerobic transition on treadmill and bicycle in triathletes. Jap J Physiol 1993; 43: 347-360
• 29 Moyna NM, Robertson RJ, Meckes CL, Peoples JA, Millich NB, Thompson PD. Intermodal comparison of energy expenditure at exercise intensities corresponding to the perceptual preference range. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001; 33: 1404-1410
• 30 Rice AJ, Scroop GC, Thornton AT, McNaughton NS, Rogers KJ, Chapman MJ, Greville HW, Scicchitano R, Gore CJ. Arterial hypoxaemia in endurance athletes is greater during running than cycling. Respir Physiol 2000; 123: 235-246
• 31 Scott CB, Littlefield ND, Chason JD, Bunker MP, Asselin EM. Differences in oxygen uptake but equivalent energy expenditure between a brief bout of cycling and running. Nutr Metab 2006; 3: 1
• 32 Thomas TR, Feiock CW, Araujo J. Metabolic responses associated with four modes of prolonged exercise. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 1989; 29: 77-82
• 33 Thomas TR, Ziogas G, Smith T, Zhang Q, Londeree BR. Physiological and perceived exertion responses to six modes of submaximal exercise. Res Q Exerc Sport 1995; 66: 239-246
• 34 Tsintzas K, Simpson EJ, Seevaratnam N, Jones S. Effect of exercise mode on blood glucose disposal during physiological hyperinsulinaemia in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 217-220
• 35 Tuner SL, Easton C, Wilson J, Byrne DS, Rogers P, Kilduff LP, Kingsmore DB, Pitsiladis YP. Cardiopulmonary responses to treadmill and cycle ergometry exercise in patients with peripheral vascular disease. J Vasc Surg 2008; 47: 123-130
• 36 Venkata-Ramana Y, Surya-Kumary M, Sudhakar-Rao S, Balakrishna N. Comparison of training loads and physiological responses in athletes: Consideration of body weight implications. J Exerc Physiol Online 2004; 7: 134-139
• 37 Verstappen FT, Huppertz RM, Snoeckx LH. Effect of training specificity on maximal treadmill and bicycle ergometer exercise. Int J Sports Med 1982; 3: 43-46