Upper extremity prone position exercise as aerobic capacity indicator.

Peak oxygen uptake of prone upper extremity exercise (VO2peak arm) compared with maximal oxygen uptake of upright lower extremity cycling (VO2max leg) was examined in an unselected young healthy male population (n = 21). The large standard deviation of the mean value of VO2peak arm expressed as a percentage of VO2max leg (60.48% +/- 11.84%) discourages use of a maximal upper extremity exercise test to predict total body aerobic capacity (r = 0.595 p = 0.002). However, the relationship between VO2peak arm and VO2max leg was influenced by the individual's cardiorespiratory fitness and capacity to perform either arm or leg work. When the population was divided into subgroups according to cardiorespiratory fitness or when subjects previously trained for either arm or leg work were excluded from analysis, the predictive power of VO2peak arm improved. (r = 0.946 p less than 0.001). Study results suggest that with careful analysis of subjects' fitness prior to upper extremity exercise testing, such exercise in a prone position can indicate aerobic capacity and may be used for fitness training when lower limb disabilities exist.