Spontaneous alternation of the working arm in one-arm cranking.

One-arm cranking was done by ten healthy male adults at an oxygen intake level of about 1.0 liter/min. Each subject performed two kinds of cranking at a speed of 60 rpm: forced cranking using only one arm continuously for 15 min and free cranking for 30 min with the instructions to alternate from one arm to the other whenever fatigue set in. The results, excluding those of a subject who changed arms very frequently, were analyzed. In forced cranking, oxygen intake and heart rate steadily increased, the average time of appearance of local fatigue being 161 sec for the stronger arm and 122 sec for the weaker one. In free cranking, the working arm was changed 6 to 23 times during the 30-minute period, while oxygen intake and heart rate increased with fluctuations. The mean duration interval was 175 sec with the stronger arm and 123 sec with the weaker one. The mean interval of arm alternation was positively correlated with the individual time of onset of the sensation of local rigidness during forced cranking, but not with the individual time of initiation of respiratory distress. It is suggested that alternation of active muscles in moderately dynamic work may be linked with an early stage of local fatigue which is different from that of static work.