Research article summary (published 30 Mar 1999):

A theoretical analysis of preferred pedaling rate selection in endurance cycling.

Full Abstract

One objective of this study was to investigate whether neuromuscular quantities were associated with preferred pedaling rate selection during submaximal steady-state cycling from a theoretical perspective using a musculoskeletal model with an optimal control analysis. Specific neuromuscular quantities of interest were the individual muscle activation, force, stress and endurance. To achieve this objective, a forward dynamic model of cycling and optimization framework were used to simulate pedaling at three different rates of 75, 90 and 105 rpm at 265 W. The pedaling simulations were produced by optimizing the individual muscle excitation timing and magnitude to reproduce experimentally collected data. The results from these pedaling simulations indicated that all neuromuscular quantities were minimized at 90 rpm when summed across muscles. In the context of endurance cycling, these results suggest that minimizing neuromuscular fatigue is an important mechanism in pedaling rate selection. A second objective was to determine whether any of these quantities could be used to predict the preferred pedaling rate. By using the quantities with the strongest quadratic trends as the performance criterion to be minimized in an optimal control analysis, these quantities were analyzed to assess whether they could be further minimized at 90 rpm and produce normal pedaling mechanics. The results showed that both the integrated muscle activation and average endurance summed across all muscles could be further minimized at 90 rpm indicating that these quantities cannot be used individually to predict preferred pedaling rates.

Author information

Author/s: Neptune, R R (RR); Hull, M L (ML);

Affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, AB, Canada. neptune(-atsign-)roses.stanford.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of biomechanics (J Biomech), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1999-Apr; vol 32 (issue 4) : pp 409-15

Dates: Created 1999/06/08; Completed 1999/06/08; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 10213031, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Ankle Joint - physiology Bicycling - physiology Computer Simulation Electromyography Forecasting Hip Joint - physiology Humans Knee Joint - physiology Male

Models, Biological Muscle Contraction - physiology Muscle Fatigue - physiology Muscle, Skeletal - physiology Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena Neuromuscular Junction - physiology Physical Endurance - physiology Stress, Mechanical Torque Videotape Recording

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