title: Effects of workload on seat pressure while cycling with two different saddles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seat pressure during cycling and its relationship to urological disorders have been discussed extensively in recently published literature. The effects of exercise configuration on seat pressure, however, still have not been fully investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the effects of two different pedaling workloads and two saddle designs on saddle pressure in 22 (11 men and 11 women) recreational cyclists (bicycling <2 hours per week).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seat pressure was measured in the saddle surface while pedaling at workloads of 150 and 300 W using a plain and a holed saddle model, both without any gel cushion characteristics. Analysis of variance was applied to compare seat pressure between situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study the importance of bicycle saddle pressure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean seat pressure was not different between men and women. For the plain saddle, the men's average seat pressure increased as the workload increased. Using a holed saddle, the mean pressure increased as the workload increased, regardless of gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase of workload increased the seat pressure for the subjects, with the main effects dependent on workload. The use of a holed saddle was not directly related to lesser seat pressure during cycling. Our results support our understanding of a similarity between genders related to mean seat pressure, and suggest that different workload ranges may present different results for seat pressure.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Felizardo St, 750, Jardim Botanico, Porto Alegre, RS 90690-200, Brazil. felipecarpes@gmail.com
authors.forename: Felipe Pivetta
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Carpes
authors.forename: Frederico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dagnese
authors.forename: Julio Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kleinpaul
authors.forename: Elisandro de Assis
authors.initials: Ede A
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Carlos Bolli
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Mota
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult