Mechanical and Physiological Efficiency of Muscular Work with Different Muscle Groups

Abstract

The relationship between work load and maximum duration of exercise was investigated on the following three types of muscular work: reciprocating flexion-and-extension of forearm, cranking by both arms and bicycle pedalling. The mechanical efficiency was higher and the endured duration at the same load was longer in the above order of work patterns. At the submaximal work load the maximum duration was closely related to the ratio of torque to the respective maximum muscle strength along with the speed of work.

Regarding the physiological efficiency, some physiological responses such as the bounds of steady state and the terms of recovery in heart rate, ventilatory equivalent and oxygen debt were compared in relation to the oxygen requirement at various load levels. The load at which physiological efficiency began to decrease abruptly was significantly higher in the above order of exercises. In conclusion, the work load and the level of energy expenditure at which the physiological burden can be assessed to be equivalent among the different types of muscular work are connected with the substantial mass of working muscle groups.