The Effects of Training on the Heart Rate During Arm and Leg Exercise

The effect on heart rate obtained by training of the arm and leg muscles respectively was studied in healthy subjects. Training performed by arm work on a bicycle ergometer caused a significant reduction of the heart rate during this type of exercise but not during leg work. Neither did training performed with the legs reduce the group mean heart rate during arm work. In two subjects, however, training of the leg muscles caused heart rate reduction during leg as well as arm work. A further decline in heart rate during arm work was obtained by a subsequent arm-training program in these two subjects. It is concluded that a substantial part of the effect of short-term physical training on the heart rate derives from extra cardiac factors, i. e. alterations in the trained muscles.