Comparison of Kinetics, Kinematics, and Electromyography During Single-Leg Assisted and Unassisted Cycling

Abstract

To use single-leg cycling training for varying populations, it is important to understand whether a counterweight attached to the contralateral crank during single-leg cycling drills replicates the effects of the opposite leg in the ipsilateral leg. Therefore, we compared single-leg assisted cycling using a counterweight on the contralateral crank for joint kinetics, kinematics, and lower-limb muscle activation. Fourteen healthy nonathletes performed 2 bilateral cycling trials (240 ± 23 W and 90 ± 2 rpm) and 2 single-leg trials (120 ± 11 W and 90 ± 2 rpm) for measurements of pedal force, joint kinematics, and muscle activation of their right lower limb. For 1 single-leg trial, a custom-made adaptor was used to attach 10 kg of weight to the contralateral leg. Total force applied on the pedal, pedal force effectiveness, the mean joint angles and range of motion, mechanical work at the crank, hip, knee, and ankle joints, electromyography, pedaling cadence, and right crank mechanical work were assessed. Biceps femoris (87%), vastus lateralis (15%), rectus femoris (57%), tibialis anterior (57%), and gastrocnemius medialis (12%) activations were larger in the single-leg assisted trial compared with the bilateral trial. Lower total pedal force (17%) and increased index of effectiveness (16%) also indicate mechanical differences in single-leg cycling using a counterweight on the contralateral crank than conventional bilateral cycling. Single-leg assisted training should be used with caution because of potential differences in muscle recruitment and pedaling kinetics compared with bilateral cycling.

Active and Inactive Leg Hemodynamics during Sequential Single-Leg Interval Cycling

“…During the single-leg intervals a specially designed counterweight (10 kg) was attached to the opposite pedal to allow a fluid pedaling motion. Previous research has successfully used this method in both healthy and clinical populations (3,5,(21)(22)(23)(24) and has shown that counterweighted single-leg cycling is more similar to double-leg cycling when compared with unassisted single-leg cycling (3,21).…”

Superior mitochondrial adaptations in human skeletal muscle after interval compared to continuous single‐leg cycling matched for total work

“…; Bini et al . ). There is no evidence to suggest that mitochondrial adaptations to single‐leg cycling transfer to the non‐exercising leg, meaning that the contralateral limb can be trained in a different manner or serve as a non‐exercise control (Saltin et al .…”

Untitled

“…To collect kinematic athletes' clearance data, twenty markers were attached to the body of each participant for digitization. Body markers, using the Hanavan model modified by De Leva (1996), were digitized using the video-based data analysis system SkillSpector ® 1.3.2 [Odense SØ -Denmark], (Bini, Jacques, Lanferdini, & Vaz, 2015;Lanferdini et al, 2016;Mkaouer, 2018;Mkaouer, Chaabene, Amara, Negra, & Jemni, 2018;Mkaouer, Jemni, Amara, Chaabène, & Tabka, 2013). Similarly, the body segments' COM was computed using the Hanavan model modified by De Leva (1996).…”