The Effects of Pedal Rates on Pedal Reaction Forces During Elliptical Exercise

Abstract

Despite the growing popularity in recent years of elliptical exercise (EE), little is known regarding the loadings applied to the body during EE. Since overloading to the body may lead to early fatigue of the muscles and increase the incidence of overuse injuries, such information is necessary for safe use of the elliptical trainer (ET) as a fitness tool. The current study aimed to determine the typical patterns and loading rates of the measured pedal reaction forces (PRF), and to quantify their differences from those during level walking, and the effects of pedaling rate. Fifteen male adults performed level walking and EE while 3D marker data, right PRFs and ground reaction forces (GRF) were measured. The parameters of the ET were set for two different pedal rates: 50 rpm and 70 rpm. For each pedal rate, the parameters were set to match the variables measured during level walking, with a mean step length of 55% leg length and no workload. During early stance the vertical PRF was smaller than the GRF, while the medial and posterior PRF were greater. PRFs also occurred during swing. Loading rates around heelstrike during EE were all smaller than those during walking. The medial, anterior and posterior PRF, as well as the medial and vertial loading rates increased with increasing pedal rates. The basic force patterns of EE and the effects of pedal rate were established in order to determine the true potential for such instrumentation in locomotion analysis. The results will be helpful for future related studies.

Biomechanics of human movement and its clinical applications

“…Motion analysis plays a key role in professional sports training, aiming to optimize and improve athletic performance. Examples include determining joint loadings in the lower extremities during elliptical exercises [89] and their changes with different pedal rates [90], step lengths [91] and step heights [92] and study of the joint kinematics of the lower limbs and the COP movements in wrestlers during tackle defense [93].…”

“…Therefore, users’ joint function and muscle strength, especially at the knee, must be considered in order to avoid injuries when using ET for athletic and rehabilitative training [89]. The effects of pedal rates, step height and step length on the biomechanics of lower limbs during EE were also studied [90–92]. With increasing pedal rates, the medial, anterior and posterior PRF, as well as the medial and vertical loading rates, all increased during EE [90].…”

“…The effects of pedal rates, step height and step length on the biomechanics of lower limbs during EE were also studied [90–92]. With increasing pedal rates, the medial, anterior and posterior PRF, as well as the medial and vertical loading rates, all increased during EE [90]. As step length increases, harmful joint loadings, especially at the hip joint, could increase during EE [91].…”

Comparison of Physiological Variables Between the Elliptical Bicycle and Run Training in Experienced Runners

“…The ET in this EBIKE study did not show the TT performance decrement seen by Honea post elliptical training, and that may be due to the differences in design between the EBIKE and the elliptical. The elliptical trainer has Copyright ª 2016 National Strength and Conditioning Association A C C E P T E D been seen to produce vertical pedal reaction forces similar to walking, below 100% body weight (6), and lower average percentage body weight values compared to running (19). This further suggests a difference in neuromuscular and muscular work between running and non-impact elliptical motion exercise.…”

Clinical Implications of Changing Parameters on an Elliptical Trainer

“…Knowing these parameters may assist the medical team when having to make reliable clinical decisions in relation to when injured or surgically operated athletes may return to weightbearing sporting activities. Most of the previous literature comparing different exercise machines have investigated electromyography patterns 5,24 ; biomechanics; kinematics 2,27 ; comparisons between elliptical training, stationary cycling, treadmill walking, and over-ground walking 7,24 ; ground reaction forces 21 ; and the effect of pedal rates on loading. 5 Use of the elliptical trainer for athletic and rehabilitative training would have to consider users' joint function and muscle strength, especially at the knee, to avoid injuries.…”