Effects of acute exercise with upper body cycle ergometer in individuals with morbid obesity

Objective The purpose of this study is to research effects of acute exercise with cycle ergometers adapted for the upper limbs on physiological markers in the morbidly obese. Methods Ten morbidly obese patients participated in the study. They were submitted to thirty minutes of continuous activity on a cycle ergometer adapted to the upper limbs. The following physiological markers were evaluated: systemic arterial pressure, heart rate, the double product, and oxygen saturation. For the statistical analysis, descriptive analysis was used. Results Patients showed a Body Mass Index (BMI) value of 52.1 ± 8.3. Most of the subjects showed a slight reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after physical activity, with SBP before and after physical activity of 135.5±11.4 and 133.5±15.3 mmHg, respectively, and, for DBP, 83±7.5 and 77±7.1 respectively. The average heart rate was 68±10.4 bpm before, 100.6±16.5 bpm during and 80.7±14.5 bpm 1 minute after. The double product (DP) had a mean increase of 29.6±17.1 % in men and 10.4±8.9 % in women when compared with the initial phase. The oxygen saturation showed no mean difference before, during or after activity. Conclusion It can be concluded that acute physical exercise with an upper limbs cycle ergometer in morbidly obese patients does not represent an elevated risk to these patients, being in fact a good intervention to promote health.