A study was performed to explore possible psychological benefits of additional arm work during cycle exercising. For this, the subjective and physiological responses of 12 healthy young males were studied during arm and leg exercise on a cycle ergometer with movable arm levers (at 2 distances of the handgrips from the body) and during leg exercise with the grips fixed. After warming up, the subjects kept for 20 min. a constant work load leading to heart rates of about 150 to 160 beats • min.−1. Neither the EMG data nor the ratings of discomfort showed a substantial relief by arm work, but the subjects had different preferences for arm and leg exercise and just leg work, accompanied by differences in discomfort and physiological responses.
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