Biomechanics of Cycling Christian Morcillo Gallardo Javier Sola López
What is biomechanichs?
What is biomechanics? Ø Make simbiosis between human body and bycicle. Ø Increase your perfomance. Ø Increase the confort. Ø Detect, make a diagnostic and correct painful situations or potencial situations in human movementsà HEALTH (prevention)
What we do? Anamnesis: Differents questions to know the clinic history of the cyciist. Painful zones, injuries ROM: Check levels of extension and flexion in lower body. Detect asimetries. Podal study: study of varus/ valgus in feet, level of rotation. Cleats position and adding orthosis if necesary Center of gravity. Determines the position over ther saddle. It depends on the discipline: road, mountainbike, track, cyclocross, etc Goniometry: Key angles to adjust saddle height and the arms positions in the interface with the bar. Kinematics analisys : analisys of the torque when pedaling. Level of efficiency. EMG: How our muscles are working. Useful for detecting asimetries or check the efficiency of our pedaling technique.
ROM (Range of Movement) Describes limitations and potencial positions on the bike. The more ROM, the better posiition on the bike. Extension test (describes how we can bend over the bar) > 150º Good > 180º Excellent < 150º Poor Flexion Test ( movility of the lumbopelvic zone) > 60º Good < 60º Poor
ROM
Asimetries q Anatomic: needs correction q Functional: requires study about cause/origin
Proportionality Ø Determines saddle-handlebar height Ø Conditioned by motor range (ROM) Ø Anatomic position: distance between trochanter and hand flexor Road: 50% of that distance MTB: 25% of that distance
Feet analysis Navicular Drop Test: determines if there is any failure in the foot arch during impulsion In case of failure Possibility of injury Loss of performance If one leg more than the other one, possible rotation Legs near to the frame as an indicator
Foot analysis Rotation: (cleats in order to rotation) Neutral Outwards Inside Varus/valgus (determines foot and knee stability) Valgus Varus (60-70% of population) Different shoes for each kind of feet: each brand designs for each kind of foot
Foot analysis Possibles metatarsalgias ( responsibles of sleptfingers, pain, burnt sensation). As a consecuence, wrong step of feet and system instability. Hallux valgus First radius failure Sesamoiditis Valgus Varus (high foot arches)
Cleat-foot-shoe interface Given the above data about rotation and varus/valgus (wedges) Ø Stabilize the foot for increase inertia. Ø Make permanent contact foot-shoe. We put: -Cleat position between 1st and 5th metatarsal. Cast support. -Factor Q. Determined by iliac crests distance. Iliac crests- knee- ankle same line (KNEE TRACKING)
Dinamic Analysis How cyclist acts over bike. Movements he does over saddle, HOW HE HIT. Ankle s movements. Legs movements.
Gravitational Set
Goniometry Maximum knee extension Minimum 145º (synovial fluid input) maximum 150º Shoulder-elbow-floating rib 80-90º road 70-85º according MTB discipline
Knee s tracking
Injuries resulting from a poor tracking Tendinopathies Iliotibial band syndrome Chondromalacia Other muscle injuries in vast, fascia lata etc, etc
Knee Tracking Center of gravity Knee stability Hip stability Foot stability
The Torque
The Torque
Pedaling technique PISTON PEDALING: Perpendicular force on the pedals, applied between 90 and 180º, then "live off (inertia). CIRCULAR PEDALING: Apply force throughout the travel of the rod, pushing and pulling. With the round pedaling, theorists wanted to increase the use of force throughout the travel of the pedal stroke, in search of an ideal torque. Problems: -Impossibility of applying the SAME FORCE on the pedals "pulling" and pushing on the rod. -Deadlocks: impossible to apply the same force on the pedal at 90º than 0º. -Possible injury discouraged "drag" pedaling, looking for more effort in the second phase of pedaling. Injuries focused especially in the lumbar area (causing hip rotations, hernias,...) -Injuries iliopsoas (only prepared to lift the weight of the leg, not to throw). When recruited more muscle to perform that function, provoke: Pain in lower back. Pain insertion of the fascia lata tensor.
Pedaling technique
Pedaling technique
Electromiography