Notice the steady-state VO2 reached during the final minute of the bout is 1.23

Question

Notice the steady-state VO2 reached during the final minute of the bout is 1.23 L/min, a higher value than that attained in cycling with the legs at the same external work rate (1.05 L/min). During arm cranking or during most other upper body exercise, the muscles of the pelvis, trunk and shoulder girdle must contract to stabilize the body (maintain posture) and hold the body in position while force is being exerted by the hands. For this reason, exercise with the upper body tends to have a higher O2 demand for a given external work rate than does exercise with the lower body. If the upper body exercise does not require posture maintenance, VO2 for a given work rate more closely matches that for lower body exercise.   Also, VO2 peak measured during upper body exercise is 20-30% lower than when measured during lower body exercise in the same person, probably due to smaller muscle mass in the arms and shoulders than in the legs.

Would you expect the same drop in VO2 peak in upper body ergometry vs. lower body ergometry in a highly trained swimmer that you may expect in an untrained subject? Why or why not?

Explanation / Answer

ANSWER : We have expected the same VO2 drop in upper body ergometry and lower ergometry( consumption of O2 during physical exercise). Since, a trained swimmer uses his/her upper body extrimities so the VO2 level (O2 consumption by muscles) is at peak in upper parts than lower extrimitis( difference is about to 20-30%) .While a untrained swimmer floats without maintaining his/her upper body posture so the muscle of upper extrimities are not in extreme working condition.

Obviously the VO2 peak (O2 consumption ) is lowerd to an equal quantity in upper extrimities as in the trained one. Due to less severe exersise the muscle mass is lower in upper parts (shoulders, arms ) in untrained swimmer than trained one.

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