Abstract

We aimed to compare the cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses to high- and moderate-intensity eccentric cycling versus moderate-intensity concentric cycling in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients. Ten patients with moderate COPD (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second; FEV1 = 68.6 ± 20.4% of predicted; 68.3 ± 9.1 years) performed 30 min of moderate-intensity concentric (CONC-M: 50% maximum workload; Wmax), moderate-intensity eccentric (ECC-M: 50% Wmax), and high-intensity eccentric (ECC-H: 100% Wmax) cycling. Average power output, oxygen consumption (V ̇O2), minute ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency (fR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and dyspnea were measured during cycling. Compared to CONC-M, lower V ̇O2 (-52 ± 14%), VE (-47 ± 16%), fR (-21 ± 14%), HR (-14 ± 16%), SBP (-73 ± 54%), RPE (-36 ± 26%) and dyspnea (-41 ± 37%) were found during ECC-M. During ECC-H, a similar metabolic demand to CONC-M was found. However, average power output was 117 ± 79% greater during ECC-H. Eccentric cycling can be safely performed by COPD patients and induced lesser cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses than concentric exercise when performed at the same workload. Novelty bullets: • Moderate- and high- intensity eccentric cycling can be performed by COPD patients • Moderate eccentric cycling showed lower cardiorespiratory, metabolic and perceptual demand than concentric cycling at the same workload in COPD patients. • Even at double workload, eccentric cycling induces lesser cardiorespiratory, metabolic and perceptual demand than moderate-intensity concentric cycling.