The Effect of Upper Body Exercise Intensity and Duration on Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption

This study assessed excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) following upper body exercise (UBE) of different intensity and duration. Ten subjects, 5 male and 5 female (age: 26.7 ± 4.9yr; peak UBE oxygen uptake [VO_2peak]: 1.7:8 ± 0.57 l · min^-1, 25.6 ± 5.8 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1) performed three randomized tests on an arm crank ergometer: 1) low intensity, short duration (LS) = 35 % VO_2peak for 15 min; 2) low intensity, long duration (LL) = 35 % VO_2peak for 30 min; 3) high intensity, short duration (HS) = 70 % VO₂peak for 15 min. Subjects reported for all tests in the morning and in a fasted and rested state. Exercise was preceded by a 30 min seated baseline. Recovery VO₂ was continuously monitored until baseline was re-established. EPOC duration (p < 0.01) and magnitude (p<0.01) were significantly greater following HS, while LL and LS did not differ in response (duration and magnitude: HS = 14.0 ± 6.5 min, 32.55 ± 24.6 kJ; LL = 5.5 ± 4.4 min, 12.3 ± 8.6 kJ; LS = 5.7 ± 4.9 min. 10.3 ± 5.3 kJ). HS also had higher HR (73 ± 10 b · min^-1, p < 0.01) at end-EPOC compared to LL (64 ± 8b · min^-1) and LS (66 ± 8b min^-1), and baseline HS values (63 ± 8 b · min^-1). Results from this study indicate that UBE intensity has a greater effect on EPOC than exercise duration under these conditions. UBE appears to have similar EPOC patterns as lower body exercise.

Key words

Arm ergometry - EPOC - heart rate