UPPER-BODY EXERCISE PERFORMANCE - COMPARISON BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN

This study compared upper-body (arm crank) aerobic fitness for a group of women and men matched for lower-body (cycle) aerobic fitness and also examined the influence selected physiological factors had on upper-body exercise performance. The components of upper-body exercise studied included maximal power output (PO(max)), peak oxygen uptake peak VO//2), elbow isokinetic strength and endurance, arm volume and endurance time at 80% arm crank peak VO//2. These results indicated that (i) women are not at a disadvantage in performing aerobic upper-body exercise, (ii) skeletal muscle strength provides a relatively minor influence on both maximal effort and prolonged upper-body exercise; and (iii) individuals can perform prolonged upper-body exercise at relative intensities greater than that needed to elicit an aerobic training effect.