Comparison among Treadmill, Arm Ergometry and Leg Crank Ergometry with Exhaled Gas Analyses in Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

　In the present study, we evaluated exercise tolerance using treadmill and arm ergometry or leg crank ergometry in patients with respiratory diseases who were or were not able to walk during their clinical course. We assessed which method made it better to provide the appropriate prescription of rehabilitation to optimize exercise intensity in their clinical recovery course. Between April 2020 and August 2021, we performed treadmill exercise tests in 59 patients with respiratory diseases, in 31 of whom (age 77.1 ± 10.0 yrs; male 24, female 7), oxygen intake (⩒o₂) and anaerobic threshold (AT) were measured using an exhaled gas analyzer and compared between data using a treadmill and arm ergometry or leg crank test. ⩒o₂ peak based on treadmill (9.4 ±2.9 kg/min) was significantly higher than that according to arm ergometry (6.7 ± 1.4 kg/min) (P ＝ 0.02). Although AT measured using treadmill (8.6 ± 2.0 kg/min) was higher than that measured using arm ergometry (6.4 ± 1.0 kg/min), the difference was not significant (P ＝ 0.14). ⩒o₂ peak measured according to leg crank ergometry (8.3 ± 1.3 kg/min) was higher than that measured based on arm ergometry (6.7 ± 1.4 kg/min), but there was no significant difference (P ＝ 0.41). In conclusion, selecting the exercise test method according to the patient's condition could make it helpful to prescribe rehabilitation intensity.