Influence of Saddle Height on Lower Limb Kinematics in Well-Trained Cyclists

Ferrer-Roca, Ventura; Roig, Andreu; Galilea, Pedro A.; García-López, Juan

doi:10.1519/jsc.0b013e318245c09d

Cited by 65 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Power output produced by the cyclist is dependent upon the force applied to the pedals and velocity (i.e., cadence), which can be influenced by changes in the cyclist-bicycle complex. This is because changes in geometry, especially in seat height, affect the length at which muscles produce force, thus changing the force-length and force-velocity relationships and the joint movement amplitude 17 . Something that can be taken into consideration in relation to changes in the force-length relationship and, consequently, in the patterns of muscle activation, is that seat height changes generate variations in the knee and ankle joints 28 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Saddle Height on Performance and Muscular Activity During the Wingate Test

et al. 2017

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RESUMOO presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o desempenho anaeróbio e a ativação muscular durante um teste de ciclismo supramáximo em três diferentes alturas do selim. Doze ciclistas competitivos completaram um teste incremental em cicloergômetro e três testes de Wingate de 30 s em diferentes alturas do selim (referência, baixa e alta), de forma randomizada, em diferentes dias. A altura do selim foi alterada para baixo e para cima a partir da posição de referência usando como parâmetro o valor referente a (± 2,5%) da distância da sínfise púbica até o solo. O sinal eletromiográfico (EMG) foi obtido dos músculos reto femoral, vasto lateral, bíceps femoral (cabeça longa) e gastrocnêmio lateral. As variáveis anaeróbias e os dados de EMG foram divididos em seis janelas consecutivas de 5 s. Os sinals EMG foram normalizados pela primeira janela da posição de referência para estipular as mudanças percentuais ao longo do teste. Os resultados sugerem que durante o teste de Wingate de 30 s pequenas alterações na altura do selim resultam em aumento da potência pico (referência=1380±241 W; baixa=1497±175 W, p=0,036; alta=1491±225 W, p=0,049) e maior período de ativação percentual para o vasto lateral (referência=33,6%, baixa=33,2%, alta=35,0%; p=0,001) em relação ao reto femoral (referência=24,5%, baixa=25,2%, alta=23.7%), bíceps femoral (referência=20,7%, baixa=20,8%, alta=19,9%) e gastrocnêmio lateral (referência=21,2%, baixa=20,8%, alta=19,9%). Os resultados sugerem que pequenos ajustes na altura do selim podem afetar a relação força-comprimento e, consequentemente, a capacidade de gerar força e o padrão de recrutamento muscular dos membros inferiores. Palavras-chave: Ciclismo. Fadiga. Potência anaeróbia. ABSTRACTThis study aimed to analyze the anaerobic performance and muscle activation during a supramaximal cycling test at three different saddle positions. Twelve competitive cyclists completed an incremental cycling test and three 30-s Wingate tests in three different saddle heights (reference, downward, and upward), in a random order, on different days. The saddle height was individually shifted downward and upward (seeing 2.5% of the distance from the pubic symphysis to ground) from the reference position. The electromyographic signal (EMG) data was obtained from the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris (long head), and gastrocnemius lateralis in order to assess muscle activation during the entire test. The anaerobic variables and the EMG data were divided into six consecutive windows of 5-s. The EMG signals were normalized by the first 5-s window of the reference position to provide the percentage changes throughout the test. The results suggest that during a 30-s Wingate test small changes in saddle height result in greater peak power output (reference=1380±241 W; downward=1497±175 W, p=0.036; upward=1491±225 W, p=0.049) and greater activation period for vastus lateralis (reference=33.6%, downward=33.2%, upward=35.0%; p=0.001) in comparision to rectus femoris (reference=24.5%, downward=25.2%, upwa...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main alterations in geometry which appear to affect physiological and biomechanical parameters are related to changes in seat tube angle 6,7 , crank length 8 , and saddle height [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] . Studies have reported divergent results regarding changes in saddle height.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Saddle Height on Performance and Muscular Activity During the Wingate Test

et al. 2017

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“…In cycling the use of video analysis to optimize the configuration of bicycle components is increasing [7,8]. However, all guidelines are based on measurements of the cyclist in static poses without information on potentially optimum joint angles from dynamic assessments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given previous studies showed that knee flexion angles are larger at dynamic compared to static assessments of cyclists [7,8], a comparison between static and dynamic analyses of joint angles for optimization of bicycle components have not fully being explored. This comparison could show that a static position of cyclists (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of static and dynamic measures of lower limb joint angles in cycling: application to bicycle fitting

Bini¹,

Hume²

2018

Hum Mov.

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Purpose. Configuration of bicycle components to the cyclist (bicycle fitting) commonly uses static poses of the cyclist on the bicycle at the 6 o'clock crank position to represent dynamic cycling positions. However, the validity of this approach and the potential use of the different crank position (e.g. 3 o'clock) have not been fully explored. Therefore, this study compared lower limb joint angles of cyclists in static poses (3 and 6 o'clock) compared to dynamic cycling. Methods. Using a digital camera, right sagittal plane images were taken of thirty cyclists seated on their own bicycles mounted on a stationary trainer with the crank at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions. Video was then recorded during pedalling at a self-selected gear ratio and pedalling cadence. Sagittal plane hip, knee and ankle angles were digitised. Results. Differences between static and dynamic angles were large at the 6 o'clock crank position with greater mean hip angle (4.9 ± 3°), smaller knee angle (8.2 ± 5°) and smaller ankle angle (8.2 ± 5.3°) for static angles. Differences between static and dynamic angles (< 1.4°) were trivial to small for the 3 o'clock crank position. Conclusions. To perform bicycle fitting, joint angles should be measured dynamically or with the cyclist in a static pose at the 3 o'clock crank position.

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“…In the sport of cycling, it has been demonstrated that static measurements of lower limb kinematics did not coincide with dynamic measurements (Ferrer-Roca et al, 2012) and significant differences have been reported in knee and ankle joint angles between static and dynamic measurements (Peveler et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the use of inertial sensing equipment for the measurement of hip flexion and pelvic rotation in horse riders

Gandy

Bondi

Pigott

et al. 2018

CEP

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This is an author-created version of a manuscript accepted for publication in AbstractEquestrian sports report three to five times higher incidence rates for lower back pain than that of the general population, with hip flexion angles of 50-60° suggested as a causal factor. Inertial motion capture technology enables dynamic measurement of rider kinematics but data extraction is time-consuming. The aim of this study was to develop a software tool to automate the process of extracting biomechanical data from the Xsens TM MVN (MoCap) system to investigate postural changes in riders, comparing static position at halt with dynamic position during the sit phase of rising trot. The software was found to be efficient, reducing data extraction time by 97% when used with a sample of 16 riders. Good correlation was found between hip flexion and pelvic anterior-posterior rotation and between halt and trot but with significantly greater values of hip flexion and pelvic anterior rotation in trot. No riders showed hip flexion >50° at halt but 11 riders (69%) showed hip flexion >50° during the sit phase of rising trot, indicating that dynamic assessment is important when considering rider postural faults that may put them at risk of back injury.

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Influence of Saddle Height on Lower Limb Kinematics in Well-Trained Cyclists

Cited by 65 publications

References 16 publications

Effects of Saddle Height on Performance and Muscular Activity During the Wingate Test

Effects of Saddle Height on Performance and Muscular Activity During the Wingate Test

A comparison of static and dynamic measures of lower limb joint angles in cycling: application to bicycle fitting

Investigation of the use of inertial sensing equipment for the measurement of hip flexion and pelvic rotation in horse riders

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