Affiliations: [a] Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand,
Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand | [b] Capes Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brazil | [c] Laboratório de Pesquisa do Exercício,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Rodrigo Bini, Sport Performance
Research Institute New Zealand, School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland
University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, New Zealand. Tel.: +649
921 9999, ext. 7295; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Workload and experience in cycling have been suggested as factors
influencing joint kinematics in cycling. The aims of our study were to (1)
compare cyclists and non-cyclists lower limb kinematics and (2) to assess the
effects of different workload levels on joint kinematics of cyclists and
non-cyclists. Fifteen male athletes with experience in road cycling and
triathlon competitions and fourteen male non-athletes volunteered to take part
in the study. They performed an incremental test to exhaustion using their own
bicycles (athletes) or a road bicycle set for their body dimensions
(non-athletes). Right sagittal plane kinematics and gases exchanges were
collected during the test. Ventilatory thresholds related workloads were
defined for offline analysis of lower limb joint kinematics. Greater ankle
range of motion was observed for athletes (17%) and non-athletes (25%) at
maximal workload level compared to lower workload levels. Greater forward body
position was observed for athletes (∼ 12%) and non-athletes (5–7%).
Smaller hip flexion was observed for non-athletes compared to athletes (7%).
Sub maximal workload level did not substantially affect lower limb joint
kinematics. Similar lower limb joint motion between athletes and non-athletes
suggests that changes in road cycling training may not result in different
joint kinematics.
