Effect of Training Types Using Recumbent Cycle Ergometer on Ankle Strength in Healthy Male Subjects

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate the exercise effect of two types of training with a recumbent cycle ergometer on ankle muscle strength (dorsiflexor strength, DFS; dorsiflexor strength/weight, DFS/kg; plantar flexor strength, PFS; and plantar flexor strength/weight, PFS/kg) in healthy male subjects. @*Methods@#Twenty-three healthy males (27.91 ± 8.66 yr) were randomly allocated into two groups (high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and aerobic exercise training (AET) after the first measurement. The subjects were trained for 24 sessions (40 min/rep, three times/week) and ankle strength was measured for a second time. Two-way mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify significant differences between changes in ankle muscle strength between before and after training (within factors) in the HIIT and AET groups (between factors). The statistical significance level was set at α = 0.05. @*Results@#In both HIIT and AET groups, all variables of ankle muscle strength were significantly increased after training compared to before training (p = 0.001). However, there were no differences in all variables of ankle strength between the HIIT and AET group (p > 0.05). @*Conclusion@#Both types (HIIT and AET) of recumbent cycle exercise training could be effective training methods to increase ankle muscle strength in healthy individuals, and the HIIT type with high intensity and low frequency pedaling could be recommended more to strengthen ankle muscles.