Bicycle saddle pressure: effects of trunk position and saddle design on healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
There is a common belief that seat pressure during cycling can compress specific neurovascular tissues over the perineum leading to genital pathologies. This topic has seldom been discussed for women. The present study was conducted to verify the effect of trunk position and saddle design on saddle pressure in both men and women.


METHODS
Recreational cyclists (11 men and 11 women) were evaluated while seated on a bicycle. Saddle pressure was measured with F-scan insoles adapted for two saddle models (with and without a hole), and two trunk positions (upright and forwards). Pressure values were compared between trunk positions and saddles employing ANOVA.


RESULTS
There were no statistical differences comparing saddle pressure between the two trunk positions for women. For men a statistical difference between the trunk positions for the saddle with a hole was found. Thus, the trunk forwards shift seems to affect the values of saddle pressure only for men using the 'holed' saddle.


CONCLUSIONS
Saddle pressure for men was influenced by saddle design and trunk position only. This result indicates that the masculine anatomy may influence saddle pressure during bicycle.
Carpes
Felipe Pivetta
FP
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Laboratório de Pesquisa do Exercício, Porto Alegre, Brazil. felipecarpes@gmail.com
Dagnese
Frederico
F
Kleinpaul
Julio Francisco
JF
Martins
Elisandro de Assis
Ede A
Mota
Carlos Bolli
CB
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001642:Bicycling; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D019876:Sports Equipment; D055815:Young Adult