European journal of applied physiology
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · Aug 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyAdaptations to endurance training in the healthy elderly: arm cranking versus leg cycling.
The effect in healthy elderly subjects of cycle ergometer or arm ergometer training on peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) and ventilatory threshold (VT) was studied. The aim was to determine the benefit of each training modality on specific and cross exercise capacity. The cross-effect was also evaluated as an index of the central nature of the adaptive response to training. ⋯ The results indicate that aerobic training brought about with different muscle masses, produce similar improvements in maximal and submaximal exercise capacity. Roughly half of such improvements are specific to exercise mode, which suggests peripheral adaptations to training. The other half is non-specific since it influences also the alternative exercise modality, and is probably due to central adaptations.