Specific and Transfer Effects Induced by Arm or Leg Training

The purpose of the present study was to examine both the specific and the transfer effects of a Square Wave Endurance Exercise Test (SWEET) and to investigate the determining factors of transfer effect. A control group (CG, n = 5) and 2 experimental groups were studied. Experimental groups completed 3 days/week a 45 min SWEET over 6 weeks, either with the arms using a wheelchair ergometer (AG, n = 5) or with the legs using a cycling ergometer (LG, n = 5). All subjects performed before and after training two maximal progressive tests: the first one with the arms and the second with the legs. During those tests oxygen uptake (V˙O₂) and cardiorespiratory parameters were continuously measured. Specific effects (changes between the tests performed with trained limbs) were observed: the peak power output (W˙_p) and V˙O₂ were significantly increased by both arm (+ 66 %, + 35 %) and leg (+ 17 %, + 14 %) training. At ventilatory threshold (VT), power output (W˙) and V˙O₂ were significantly increased with arm (+ 145 % and + 51 %) and leg (+ 53 % and + 46 %) training. Transfer effects (changes between pre and post tests performed with untrained limbs) were observed: W˙_p and V˙O₂ were not increased in AG while W˙_p was increased in LG (+ 11 %). At VT, W˙ and V˙O₂ were increased with arm (+ 19 % and + 23 %) and leg (+ 33 % and + 46 %) training. For AG and LG the V˙O₂ expressed in percent of the V˙O₂ peak was increased (+ 19 % and + 33 %, respectively) and the O_2p was also increased (+ 30 %) for LG. These results show that SWEET training induced specific and transfer effects. Moreover, the initial level of the subjects, the type and the intensity of the training seem to be the major factors for effective observable transfer effects.