Biomechanical determinants of pedaling energetics: internal and external work are not independent.
Simulation analyses of pedaling demonstrate how individual muscle forces act to accelerate and decelerate the leg segments and the crank to perform external work. The work done by the muscles to accelerate the leg segments ultimately drives the pedals because when the legs decelerate, their mechanical energy is used to overcome the external load.
Kautz
Steven A
SA
Rehabilitation Research and Development Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, CA, USA. skautz@hp.ufl.edu
Neptune
Richard R
RR
D000054:Acceleration; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016552:Ergometry; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*