Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
09:24
A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers
Published on: January 28, 2020
The energetically optimal cadence decreases after prolonged cycling exercise
Simon Annaheim1, Urs Boutellier, Götz Kohler
1Exercise Physiology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences, ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. simon.annaheim@physiol.biol.ethz.ch
European Journal of Applied Physiology
|April 7, 2010
Summary
Prolonged cycling exercise, whether at high or low cadences, reduces the energetically optimal cadence (EOC). This suggests a shift in muscle fiber recruitment following fatigue, potentially detectable by measuring EOC.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Understanding how fatigue affects neuromuscular control is crucial for optimizing athletic performance.
- Energetically optimal cadence (EOC) represents the most efficient pedaling rate for cyclists.
- Previous research has not fully explored the impact of prolonged submaximal exercise on EOC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the changes in EOC in experienced cyclists after prolonged cycling exercise.
- To determine if fatigue induced by high or low fixed cadences alters the EOC.
- To explore the potential of EOC measurement as a non-invasive indicator of muscle fiber recruitment changes.
Main Methods:
- 14 experienced cyclists performed EOC determination using pulmonary gas exchange across six cadences (100-50 rpm).
- EOC was re-assessed after a 55-minute cycling bout at either a high (>95 rpm) or low (<55 rpm) fixed cadence.
- Statistical analysis was used to compare EOC before and after the fatiguing exercise.
Main Results:
- The EOC significantly decreased (P < 0.01) after prolonged cycling exercise, irrespective of the fixed cadence condition (high or low).
- This reduction in EOC suggests a shift in the contribution of different muscle fiber types to power output post-fatigue.
- Findings align with generalized muscle equations, indicating increased recruitment of type I muscle fibers.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged cycling exercise leads to a significant decrease in the energetically optimal cadence.
- The observed EOC reduction implies a qualitative change in muscle fiber activation patterns due to fatigue.
- Measuring EOC may offer a novel, non-invasive method for assessing fatigue-induced alterations in muscle fiber recruitment, warranting further research.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:24Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective response...
01:29Cardiac Cycle
The cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of events that occur in the heart from the beginning of one heartbeat to the next. It's characterized by alternating periods of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the heart muscles.
During the cardiac cycle, blood flow through the heart is regulated entirely by changing pressure gradients. This sequence of events begins with the heart in a state of total relaxation, known as mid-to-late diastole, during which blood passively flows from...
During the cardiac cycle, blood flow through the heart is regulated entirely by changing pressure gradients. This sequence of events begins with the heart in a state of total relaxation, known as mid-to-late diastole, during which blood passively flows from...
01:25Correlation between ECG and Cardiac Cycle
The electrical signals recorded on an electrocardiogram (ECG) occur before the mechanical processes of contraction and relaxation during the cardiac cycle.
A cardiac action potential originates in the SA node and spreads throughout the atria and the AV node in approximately 0.03 seconds. This results in the P wave in an ECG and triggers atrial contraction. The action potential is then briefly slowed at the AV node, allowing the atria to contract and fill the ventricles with blood before...
A cardiac action potential originates in the SA node and spreads throughout the atria and the AV node in approximately 0.03 seconds. This results in the P wave in an ECG and triggers atrial contraction. The action potential is then briefly slowed at the AV node, allowing the atria to contract and fill the ventricles with blood before...
01:13The Cardiac Cycle
The heart beats rhythmically in a sequence called the cardiac cycle—a rapid coordination of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole).
The Process
Electrical signals—sent from the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atrial wall to the atrioventricular (AV) node between the right atrium and right ventricle—cause both atria to simultaneously contract. When the signal reaches the AV node, it pauses for approximately a tenth of a second, allowing the atria to contract and empty blood into the...
The Process
Electrical signals—sent from the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atrial wall to the atrioventricular (AV) node between the right atrium and right ventricle—cause both atria to simultaneously contract. When the signal reaches the AV node, it pauses for approximately a tenth of a second, allowing the atria to contract and empty blood into the...