Biomechanical Factors Associated with Shoe/Pedal Interfaces

Abstract

The principal demand on the body during cycling is on the lower extremities as they are responsible for producing a majority of the energy imparted to the bike. As a result the legs, due to high reactive forces between the foot and pedal, experience high loads on the joints. These loads may adversely affect joint tissues and contribute to overuse injuries, e.g. knee pain. The mechanical link between the leg and the bike is the shoe/pedal interface. This transmission site, by design, can either create smooth transfer of energy or abnormally high repetitive loads which are potentially injurious to the body. Incidence of lower extremity injury in cycling is high, and historically biomechanical analyses of this activity have focused their attention on either the rider or the bike, but not the link between the two. Recently, pedal designs have changed in response to complaints of sore knees with the development of pedals allowing varying degrees of float. This form of transmission is intended to enhance power transfer from rider to bike as well as minimise trauma to the legs by permitting the foot to rotate during the pedalling cycle in a toe-in/heel-out or heel-in/toe-out movement pattern. Recent evidence suggests this type of pedal design does reduce trauma and maintains power output. This article reviews common lower extremity overuse injuries and biomechanical factors during the pedalling cycle with the primary focus on the shoe/pedal interface. We will summarise information available on lower extremity kinematics and kinetics as well as recent data specifically related to shoe/pedal interface kinetics, evaluation of different pedal types-specifically comparison between clipless 'fixed' and clipless 'float' systems-and discuss their resultant effect on lower extremity dynamics and their implications for injury.

Acute effects of lateral shoe wedges on joint biomechanics of patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis during stationary cycling

“…the toe cages allowed some pedal "float"). This was important to us because this is more realistic in recreational cycling and has been found in previous studies to reduce knee joint injuries during cycling (Gregor and Wheeler, 1994).…”

Lower body problems and injury in cycling

“…It has been clear for some time that many patients with PF pain are wrongly attributed as having chondromalacia patellae (Lindberg et al, 1986;Radin, 1985). Yet several cycling texts specifically state that 'chondromalacia' is a cycling related problem without making a distinction between this pathological condition and the clinical condition of PF pain (Asplund and St Pierre, 2004;Holmes et al, 1994;Hull and Ruby, 1996;Gregor and Wheeler, 1994;Sanner and O'Halloran, 2000). This confusion is unhelpful to the clinician and needs to be reconsidered as it implies that all cyclists have PF pain due to chondromalacia patellae.…”

“…This area of friction has been described as the 'impingement zone' (Farrell et al, 2003). A myriad of reasons have been proposed to explain why cyclists are prone to this condition that can be summed up as 'improper cycle fit' (Holmes et al, 1993;Gregor and Wheeler, 1994). Consequently, a considerable amount of advice has been given to correct the bicycle and correct the cyclist's body that is not specific and applies the 'scatter-gun approach' to treatment.…”

Der Einfluss einer Schuheinlage aus Karbonauf die plantare Druckverteilung im Radschuh

“…Fußbezogene Beschwerden im Radsport sind Metatarsalgien, Achillessehnenbeschwerden und häufig durch Schuhe und deren Verschlussmechanismen hervorgerufene Taubheitsgefühle im Fußbereich [6,7]. Die Entstehung von Überlastungsbeschwerden wird einer nicht optimalen Position auf dem Rad zugeschrieben [8,9]. In Reviews werden zwar Maßnahmen zur Reduktion von überlastungsbedingten Beschwerden vorgeschlagen (Sitzposition optimieren [9], Schuh-Pedal-Interface optimieren [8], Fußposition ändern, um Bewegungsablauf zu optimieren [10][11][12]).…”

“…Die Entstehung von Überlastungsbeschwerden wird einer nicht optimalen Position auf dem Rad zugeschrieben [8,9]. In Reviews werden zwar Maßnahmen zur Reduktion von überlastungsbedingten Beschwerden vorgeschlagen (Sitzposition optimieren [9], Schuh-Pedal-Interface optimieren [8], Fußposition ändern, um Bewegungsablauf zu optimieren [10][11][12]). Allerdings gibt es keine Studien, welche die Effektivität dieser Optimierungsstrategien zur Reduktion von Beschwerden oder deren Präventionspotenzial im Längsschnitt überprüfen [13].…”