Validity and reliability of the Ergomopro powermeter

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate power output measurement is crucial in cycling research and training.
• Existing powermeters like SRM and Monark are widely used, but new devices require validation.
• Understanding bilateral contributions to power output is essential for comprehensive analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Ergomopro powermeter.
• To compare the Ergomopro system against established Monark and SRM powermeters.
• To assess the impact of bilateral contributions on power output measurements.

Main Methods:

• Nine participants performed trials on Monark and Ergomopro powermeters simultaneously.
• Trials involved varying power outputs (50-450 W) with 60-second work stages.
• A Lode Excaliber Sport PFM ergometer was used to assess bilateral contributions.

Main Results:

• Initial power output readings showed significant differences between the three systems (p < 0.01).
• After accounting for bilateral contributions, no significant differences were found between powermeters (p = 0.58).
• Reliability (CV%) was 2.31% for Ergomopro, 1.59% for Monark, and 1.37% for SRM.

Conclusions:

• The Ergomopro powermeter demonstrates acceptable accuracy when bilateral contributions are considered.
• The Ergomopro system exhibits higher variability compared to Monark and SRM powermeters.
• Users should consider the Ergomopro's variability and potential bilateral balance issues during application.