A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing cardiopulmonary exercise test values obtained from the arm cycle and the leg cycle respectively in healthy adults

This new paper reviews results of previous studies in comparing cardio pulmonary exercise test results achieved by arm cycle ergometer (AC) and to leg cycle ergometer (LC)

Despite most of the CPET tests are performed using a treadmill or a leg cycle ergometer, due to disability, co-morbidity, preference or athletic discipline there is a need to investigate alternatives, ie to perform the test with the upper body using an arm cycle ergometer (AC).

The objectives of this study were to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the difference in VO2max achieved by arm cycle ergometer (AC) compared to LC in healthy adults and to explore factors that may be predictive of this difference.

This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that the there was a linear association between the VO2max for the AC test and the LC test. The magnitude of this difference appeared to be reduced in studies with older and less active populations.

The article details are the following:

- Title: "A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing cardiopulmonary exercise test values obtained from the arm cycle and the leg cycle respectively in healthy adults"
- Authors: Rasmus Tolstrup Larsen, Jan Christensen, Lars Hermann Tang, Camilla Keller, Patrick Doherty, Ann-Dorthe Zwisler, Rod S Taylor, and Henning Langberg
- Published in: Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Dec; 11(7): 1006–1039

The study can be downoloaded freely at the following link: click here