Physiological response to eccentric and concentric cycling in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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 s (FEV₁) = 68.6% ± 20.4% of predicted; 68.3 ± 9.1 years) performed 30 min of moderate-intensity concentric (CONC-M: 50% maximum workload; W_max), moderate-intensity eccentric (ECC-M: 50% W_max), and high-intensity eccentric (ECC-H: 100% W_max) cycling. Average power output, oxygen consumption (V˙ O₂), minute ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency (f_R), 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 with CONC-M, lower V˙ O₂ (–52% ± 14%), VE (–47% ± 16%), f_R (–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% higher during ECC-H. Eccentric cycling can be safely performed by COPD patients and induced lower cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses than concentric exercise when performed at the same workload. Novelty • Moderate-and high-intensity eccentric cycling can be performed by COPD patients. • Moderate-intensity 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 lower cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual demand than moderate-intensity concentric cycling.