Affiliations: [a] Exercise and Sport Science Program, The University of
Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA | [b] Department of Biology, The University of Tulsa, OK,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: John F. Caruso, Ph.D., 312 Chapman
Hall, 800 S. Tucker Drive, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA. Tel.:
+1 918 631 2924; Fax: +1 918 631 2068; E-mail: john-caruso@utulsa.edu
Abstract: To assess cortisol concentrations (CC) from flywheel ergometer
resistive exercise, subjects performed three different leg press workouts on
the device. Comprised of ten-repetition sets, the workouts entailed 1): a
three-set protocol composed of concentric and eccentric actions (CE3), as well
as concentric-only paradigms comprised of 2): three (CO3) and 3): six (CO6)
sets. Venous blood draws, collected before workouts and at one and 30 minutes
post-exercise, measured CC. ANOVA yielded CC results similar to studies that
employed standard resistive exercise equipment. However multivariate regression
revealed body mass, peak angular velocity and average power were strong
predictors of post-exercise CC. Separate multivariate analyses of the CE3 and
pooled concentric-only (CO3 and CO6 combined) data show differences in level of
explained (r^{2}) variance, which was likely due to the
ergometer's operation. Constant torque exertion throughout the CE3 bout meant
performance was continual only for that workout and evoked more explained
variance versus the concentric-only trials. The current ergometer was
originally intended for use aboard manned spacecraft and is a prototype to
newer flywheel-based resistive exercise devices. Future research should assess
responses to workouts in a bed rest model to determine which protocol best
abates CC to further aid future in-flight exercise.
Keywords: Body mass, peak angular velocity, average power, delta lactate
