Effect of Body Posture on Cardiovascular Performance and Recovery during Cycling Exercise

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the acute effects of posture position (upright vs. semi recumbent) during mild to moderate-intensity cycling exercise and recovery on cardiovascular indices in young healthy adults as there is little information on this subject.

Material and Methods

A randomized cross-over study of young healthy volunteers performed 2 sets of submaximal exercise tests during upright and recumbent cycle ergometry. Cardiovascular indices were determined using a noninvasive cardiac output measurement including heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO). Blood pressure was measured manually. Cardiovascular indices were measured at rest, during exercise and post-exercise.

Results

Cardiac indices including CO and SV were greater in the recumbent position compared to the upright position, p<0.05, during resting phase. Blood pressure was similar in the both positions during the resting phase.

In phase I, CO, SV, HR and systolic BP were greater in the recumbent position than the upright position. However, CO, HR and systolic BP but not SV were greater with upright cycling than recumbent cycling during the second phase, p<0.05.

During recovery time, CO, HR and SV returned to the baseline measurements more quickly in the recumbent position compared to the upright position.

Discussion

Exercise in the recumbent position had less stress on cardiovascular system and could be beneficial for patients with cardiovascular limitations.

Conclusions

Clinicians and exercise physiologists should consider the effect of body position when prescribing and designing an exercise program for healthy individuals and patients.

Zusammenfassung

Zweck

Ziel dieser Studie war die Bewertung akuter Auswirkungen der Körperhaltung (aufrechte vs. halbliegende Position) während Radfahrtätigkeit von leichter bis mäßiger Intensität und der Erholungsphase auf Herz- und Kreislaufindizes bei jungen gesunden Erwachsenen, da zu diesem Thema nur wenige Informationen vorliegen.

Material und MethodenIn

einer randomisierten Crossover-Studie mit jungen, gesunden Probanden wurden in 2 Versuchsaufbauten submaximale Belastungstests in aufrechter und in halbliegender Fahrradergometrie durchgeführt. Die Herz- und Kreislaufindizes wurden unter Verwendung einer nicht-invasiven Messung der Herzleistung, einschließlich Herzfrequenz (HR), Schlagvolumen (SV) und Herzzeitvolumen (CO), bestimmt. Der Blutdruck wurde manuell gemessen. Die Herz- und Kreislaufindizes wurden unter Ruhebedingungen, während des Trainings und nach dem Training gemessen.

Ergebnisse

Die Herzindizes einschließlich CO und SV lagen während der Ruhephase in der halbliegenden Position höher, als in der aufrechten Position, p<0,05. Der Blutdruck war während der Ruhephase bei beiden Positionen ähnlich.
In der Phase I fielen CO, SV, HR und systolischer Blutdruck in der halbliegenden Position höher als in der aufrechten Position aus. Allerdings waren in der zweiten Phase CO, HR und systolischer Blutdruck größer beim aufrechten Radfahren, als in der halbaufrechten Position, dies galt jedoch nicht für das Schlagvolumen (SV), p<0,05.
Während der Erholungsphase kehrten CO, HR und SV in der halbliegenden Position schneller wieder zu den Baseline-Messwerten zurück, als in der aufrechten Position.

Diskussion

Die Übung in halbliegender Position übte auf das Herz-Kreislauf-System weniger Stress aus und könnte für Patienten mit kardiovaskulären Einschränkungen von Vorteil sein.

Schlussfolgerungen

Kliniker und Trainingsphysiologen sollten bei der Verschreibung und der Planung eines Trainingsprogramms für gesunde Menschen und Patienten die Auswirkung der Körperposition in Betracht ziehen.

Key words

cardiovascular indices - cycling - posture - recovery

Schlüsselwörter

Herz- und Kreislaufindizes - Radfahren - Körperhaltung - Erholung

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