The effects of a light bicycle exercise on bioimpedance and grip strength

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a bicycle exercise with the intensity of 50% of maximum oxygen uptake on bio-impedance and grip strength. Skin conductivity related to meridian autonomous nervous excitements were measured by a neurometer. The conductivity was expressed as the value of corresponding electric current. Grip strength, which is a good index of health, was measured by a Smedley type dynamometer. These measurements were made before and after each exercise.

Our findings were:
1. When the initial values of the electric currents fell outside the healthy current region 40-80 microamp, they changed closer to the healthy region after the exercise. The rate of increase of the values below the healthy region was greater than the rate of decrease of those above the region.
2. When the initial values of the electric currents were low and their graphic positions were distributed horizontally flat, the exercise pushed them up to the normal region. When the initial values were irregular, however, the exercise did not make the distribution flatter than before.
3. The above results 1. and 2. imply that the exercise is an effective physical stimulus to health in the way that it changes the levels of autonomous nervous excitement closer to the normal range.
4. Grip strength increased significantly or showed a tendency to increase, though not significant, after the exercise. The result implies that autonomous nervous excitements were adjusted by the exercise to recover balance.