Research article summary (published 20 Oct 2007):

Differences in pedal forces during recumbent cycling in adolescents with and without cerebral palsy.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: We showed that subjects with cerebral palsy had greater transverse and frontal plane hip and knee motion, increased duration of muscle activity, increased cocontraction, and decreased efficiency during recumbent cycling than subjects with typical development. However, it is also important to understand the forces exerted on the pedals. The purpose of this report was to compare pedal forces during cycling between adolescents with and without cerebral palsy. METHODS: Ten subjects (3 male, 7 female) with spastic diplegic or quadriplegic cerebral palsy (15.6 years, SD 1.8) and 10 subjects (3 male, 7 female) with typical development (14.9 years, SD 1.4) cycled on a stationary recumbent cycle at 30 and 60 revolutions per minute if able. Three-dimensional piezoelectric force transducers measured pedal forces. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVAs. FINDINGS: Subjects with cerebral palsy spent a smaller percentage (P<.001, r2=.09, power=1.0) of the revolution applying positive force (pushing into the pedal during the extension phase) and a greater percentage (P<.001, r2=.09, power=1.0) of the revolution applying negative force (pulling away from the pedal during the flexion phase). There was no effect of cadence and no interaction effect. INTERPRETATION: These findings compliment our earlier findings of altered joint kinematics and muscle activity indicating that subjects with cerebral palsy and typical development have different cycling strategies. Methods to increase the duration of the positive force may allow subjects with CP to cycle more successfully and cycle vigorously enough to reach a heart rate necessary for improving fitness.

Author information

Author/s: Johnston, Therese E (TE); Prosser, Laura A (LA); Lee, Samuel C K (SC);

Affiliation: Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3551 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. tjohnston(-atsign-)shrinenet.org

Grants: HD043859 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon) (Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon)), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Feb; vol 23 (issue 2) : pp 248-51

Dates: Created 2008/02/04; Completed 2008/05/13;

PMID: 17950505, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Analysis of Variance Bicycling - physiology Biomechanics Cerebral Palsy - physiopathology Exercise Test

Female Humans Lower Extremity - physiology Male Muscle Contraction - physiology Muscle, Skeletal - physiology

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Biomechanics of submaximal recumbent cycling in adolescents with and without cerebral palsy. Apr 2007
• Method of analysing the performance of self-paced and engine induced cycling in children with cerebral palsy. 28 Aug 2007
• Intra-session repeatability of lower limb muscles activation pattern during pedaling. 18 Apr 2007
• Power output of the lower limb during variable inertial loading: a comparison between methods using single and repeated contractions. 24 Mar 2004
• EMG normalization to study muscle activation in cycling. 13 May 2007
• Postexercise increase of free fatty acids. A qualitative indicator for free fatty acid utilisation during exercise? 28 Feb 2004
• Muscular activity during uphill cycling: effect of slope, posture, hand grip position and constrained bicycle lateral sways. 20 Nov 2006
• Determination of critical power using a 3-min all-out cycling test. 27 Feb 2007
• Effects of the muscle pump and body posture on cardiovascular responses during recovery from cycle exercise. 30 May 2005
• Correlations between peak power output, muscular strength and cycle time trial performance in triathletes. 30 Aug 1998

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.