The effect of measurement technique, and load and fatigue, with changes in crank arm length, on lower limb kinematics in cycle ergometry
Abstract
The effect of measurement technique, and load and fatigue, with changes in crank arm length, on lower limb kinematics in cycle ergometry; Pedal forces in a cycling task can be defined by joint moment cost functions which describe the optimal relationship between pedalling rate and bicycle-rider geometry for any given power level. In a task where power level changes, variations in pedalling rate may result in different optimum values contributing to bicycle-rider geometry. With the assumption that no changes occur in the cycle ergometer, it may be speculated that lower limb joint angles change. Eight males were tested on a cycle ergometer under four measurement conditions (static, unloaded, loaded non-fatigued, loaded fatigued), at five different crank arm lengths, for the minimum and maximum joint angles of the hip, knee, and ankle. DB MANOVA's and post-hoc tests revealed significant differences (p {dollar}<{dollar} 0.05) for joint angle values of the hip, knee, and ankle. It was concluded that changes in pedalling rate can result in changes in lower limb joint angle kinematics.