Cardiovascular demands of velocity specific isokinetic trunk exercise during constant work versus constant time trial

The purposes of this study were to: (1) determine the cardiovascular responses of velocity specific isokinetic trunk exercise: (2) determine the effect of using total time versus total work sets in comparing the cardiovascular responses between a slow and a fast velocity of isokinetic trunk exercise. 12 normotensive male subjects ages 22 to 31 took part in a repeated measures design consisting of three separate treatments (30 degrees/second for 30 seconds, 150 degrees/second for 30 seconds, and 30 degrees/second for 75 seconds) performed maximally on a Cybex Trunk Extension/Flexion device (TEF). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and rate pressure product (RPP) were measured at rest and at the end of each exercise bout. Total work values were recorded for each exercise bout. The fast velocity exercise bout showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher HR responses than the slow velocity exercise, but only for equal time sets. RPP responses were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for the fast velocity exercise bout in comparison to slow velocity exercise for bouts of both equal time and approximate total work sets. There was no significant difference between exercise bouts on elevating SBP. DBP dropped most significantly with the fast velocity exercise bout, but there was no significant difference between equal work sets. Mean total work values were all significantly different (p < 0.05) among the three exercise bouts. Although the difference in total work performed limits the validity of this experiment, data suggests that the magnitude of HR and RPP responses to isokinetic trunk exercise is dependent on total work performed rather than the velocity the exercise is performed at.