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Achilles tendon forces during cycling.

R J Gregor, P V Komi, M Järvinen

    International Journal of Sports Medicine
    |March 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Cycling involves more than concentric muscle contractions. This study found evidence of a stretch-shortening cycle in leg muscles, particularly the gastrocnemius, during the pedaling motion.

    Area of Science:

    • Biomechanics
    • Exercise Physiology
    • Sports Science

    Background:

    • Cycling is often assumed to involve only concentric muscle contractions.
    • Direct in vivo measurement of muscle forces during cycling is limited.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the in vivo forces and muscle activity during cycling.
    • To determine if a stretch-shortening cycle exists in leg muscles during pedaling.

    Main Methods:

    • Direct measurement of Achilles tendon (AT) force in a cyclist.
    • Electromyography (EMG) of vastus medialis (VM), gastrocnemius (GAST), soleus (SOL), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles.
    • Film analysis to estimate muscle length changes during pedaling.

    Main Results:

    Related Experiment Videos

    • Peak AT force increased with workload but not cadence.
    • GAST muscle length increased during the power phase, indicating lengthening.
    • GAST exhibited peak EMG activity while lengthening, suggesting a stretch-shortening cycle.

    Conclusions:

    • The pedaling cycle involves eccentric muscle actions and a stretch-shortening cycle, especially in the GAST muscle.
    • This challenges the traditional view of cycling as purely concentric.
    • Understanding these muscle actions can inform training and injury prevention.