title: The combined effect of cycling cadence and crank resistance on hamstrings and quadriceps muscle activities during cycling.
abstract: The effect of cycling cadence and crank resistance on the activity of hamstrings and quadriceps muscles was investigated during cycling movements of able-bodied subjects on a stationary bike with slow and fast speed against different resistance conditions. The ratio of average EMG amplitudes obtained in the two speed conditions (fast/slow) was computed in each resistance condition. This ratio is higher for both muscles if cycling against higher resistance. This shows that in higher resistance condition muscle activities are not only increased but the change of muscle activities with respect to cadence change varied according to resistance condition. Average EMG amplitudes increased at a higher rate with respect to change of cadence when cycling was performed in higher resistance condition. Besides, when cycling faster, hamstrings activity increased generally at a higher rate than that of quadriceps. The correlation between cadence and EMG amplitudes were also investigated. Considering hamstrings, this correlation was low and decreased as resistance increased. The correlation between the time required to drive one cycle and EMG amplitude is negative but in absolute value it is larger than the correlation of cadence and EMG amplitude.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis University Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences Budapest Hungary.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katona
authors.affiliation: Pázmány Péter Catholic University Faculty of Information Technology Budapest Hungary.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pilissy
authors.affiliation: Pázmány Péter Catholic University Faculty of Information Technology Budapest Hungary.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tihanyi
authors.affiliation: Pázmány Péter Catholic University Faculty of Information Technology Budapest Hungary University of Pécs Department of Information Technology and Biorobotics, Faculty of Science Ifjúság u. 6 H-7624 Pécs Hungary Hungarian Academy of Sciences Wigner Research Centre for Physics Budapest Hungary.
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laczkó
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D053580:Muscle Strength; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: EMG amplitude; cadence; correlation; cycling; resistance