Online sonification improves cycling performance through kinematic and muscular reorganisations

Abstract

Based on a previous study that demonstrated the beneficial effects of sonification on cycling performance, this study investigated which kinematic and muscular activities were changed to pedal effectively. An online error-based sonification strategy was developed, such that, when negative torque was applied to the pedal, a squeak sound was produced in real-time in the corresponding headphone. Participants completed four 6-min cycling trials with resistance values associated with their first ventilatory threshold. Different auditory display conditions were used for each trial (Silent, Right, Left, Stereo), where sonification was only presented for 20 s at the start of minutes 1, 2, 3, and 4. Joint kinematics and right leg muscular activities of 10 muscles were simultaneously recorded. Our results showed participants were more effective at pedalling when presented sonification, which was consistent with previously reported findings. In comparison to the Silent condition, sonification significantly limited ankle and knee joint ranges of motion and reduced muscular activations. These findings suggest performance-based sonification significantly affected participants to reduce the complexity of the task by altering the coordination of the degrees of freedom. By making these significant changes to their patterns, participants improved their cycling performance despite lowering joint ranges of motion and muscular activations.

A Mapping Review of Real-Time Movement Sonification Systems for Movement Rehabilitation

“…An ergometer, such as an exercise bike or an indoor rower, although limits the actions of a user to specific activity-dependent movement, are popularly used as exercise equipment. Although other projects make use of an ergometer in their project, only [69]- [71] have used the technology for motion capture system in their real-time movement sonification system. The technology is widely available for purchase, however, the systems are unportable and range from moderate to high cost for acquisition.…”

“…Although this technology is available at low cost, the use of microphones attributing to moderate to high costs have generally been used. Force/Pressure sensors are commonly used as motion capture devices in the literature, although none have been recorded for use in an upper-body rehabilitative context, examples of use can be found with performing arts [83] [84], to affect body perception [85]- [87], monitor cycling [70], [71], monitor skiing [88], gait rehabilitative purposes [89]- [92], sports application [93]- [95], or with use as an interface [96]. As the sensor requires compression to result in an electrical resistance change, human motion capture therefore is limited to interaction with a surface, however due to the low cost, and high environmental versatility of the sensor, this remains a popular sensor type for motion capture.…”

“…Finally, acceleration is generally chosen in combination with the following auditory categories: loudness as demonstrated by [134], [135]; timbral as demonstrated by [136]- [141]; pitch as demonstrated by [142]- [144]. Outside of the PVAO physical dimensions, data obtained as force or pressure, as dictated by the use of a force or pressure sensor, has been combined with sampled sounds [145], and changes in loudness [84], timbral [32], pitch [69] and, temporal-related [71] auditory feedback. There are also projects that make use of multiple mappings that include force or pressure as a physical dimension, examples include [83], [89]- [91], [94], [95].…”

Auditory sEMG biofeedback for reducing muscle co‐contraction during pedaling

“…It is unclear whether sEMG‐BF improved the pedal kinetics because the pedal force was not measured. Some studies have reported that biofeedback of the pedal force improves pedal force patterns (O’Brien et al, 2020 ; Vidal et al, 2020 ). Therefore, the kinetic characteristics of pedaling might be improved by sEMG‐BF.…”

Editorial: Sonification, aesthetic representation of physical quantities

“…The choice of sonification design and data supervising appear to be hot subjects substantiated in this topic and more recent literature. As a final example, it is worth mentioning experiences of movement sonification in sports-related performances, enabling new insights into the relationships between auditory perception and the neuromuscular system (O'Brien et al, 2020). It seems definitively plausible to affirm that the large potential of sonification strategies is starting to be exploited.…”