Effect of Cycling Cadence on Neuromuscular Function: A Systematic Review of Acute and Chronic Alterations
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Risk of Bias
3.2. Study Characteristics
3.3. Main Outcomes
3.3.1. Acute Neuromuscular Alteration
3.3.2. Neuromuscular Adaptations Following a Training Period
4. Discussion
4.1. Methodological Considerations
4.2. Performance Fatigability
4.3. Acute Neuromuscular Alterations
4.4. Training
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Study | Participants | Methods | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
During Cycling Exercise | |||
Takaishi et al. (1994) | 8 healthy males Age: 20.7 ± 1.5 yrs Mass: 62.5 ± 3.1 kg | 15 min at 75% VO2peak (from 140 to 210 W) at 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80 rpm Measures: iEMG increase (iEMG slope) in VL during pedaling bout | iEMG followed a quadratic curve with a bottom at about 70 rpm iEMG slope 70 rpm < 50 rpm and 60 rpm, but no differences were found with 40 and 80 rpm |
Takaishi et al. (1996) | 6 cyclists with 3–4 yrs of road racing experience Age: 20.7 ± 1.5 yrs Mass: 62.5 ± 3.1 kg | 15 min at 85% VO2peak (from 200 to 240 W) at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 rpm Measures: iEMG increase (iEMG slope) in VL during pedaling bout | iEMG slope demonstrated a quadratic curve with bottom near 80 rpm iEMG slope 80 rpm < than other cadences except 90 rpm iEMG slope 90 rpm < than at 100 rpm |
Sarre and Lepers, (2005) | 11 well-trained male cyclists with at least 4 yrs of racing experience Age: 27.8 ± 5.6 yrs Mass: 71.1 ± 7.8 kg PPO = 382 ± 43 W | 60 min at 65% PPO at: FCC (88 ± 11 rpm) 50 rpm 110 rpm Measures: EMG RMS and MPF during pedaling bouts (VL, RF, GL, and BF muscles) | EMG RMS of muscles were differently affected by cadence: EMG RMS of VL and RF ↑ with time at 110 rpm only EMG RMS of BF ↓ at 50 rpm EMG MPF of VL, RF, GL did not change EMG MPF of BF ↑ whatever the cadence |
Bessot et al. (2006) | 11 male cyclists with 6.5 ± 1.7 yrs of racing experience and 9.8 ± 2.2 h of training per week Age: 19.1 ± 1.8 yrs Mass: 65.9 ± 6.5 kg | Time to exhaustion at 95% PPO at: FCC +20% (72 rpm) FCC −20% (108 rpm) Measures: EMG RMS increase (EMG slope) in VM and BF during pedaling bouts | Time to exhaustion was greater at FCC −20% than FCC + 20%; no difference between FCC and other cadences EMG RMS of VM ↑ regardless of cadence EMG RMS of BF ↑ FCC +20% > FCC −20% |
Bessot et al., (2008) | 9 competitive male cyclists with 9.8 ± 2.2 h of training per week Age: 21.4 ± 0.7 yrs Mass: 69.6 ± 6.8 kg PPO: 322 ± 32 W | 21 min at 65% PPO FCC (86 ± 13 rpm) and 60, 75, 90, 105 rpm Measures: EMG RMS increase (EMG slope) in VM during pedaling bout | EMG slope 105 rpm > than at 75 rpm EMG slope 60 rpm > than at 75 and 90 rpm Optimal cadence to minimize EMG slope determined with regression analysis was 80 ± 7 rpm (not different from FCC) |
Vercruyssen et al. (2008) | Well trained male cyclists Age: 25 ± 4 yrs Mass: 76 ± 6 kg VO2peak = 64.7 ± 3.1 mL.kg−1.min−1 PPO = 386 ± 38 W | 6 min at 65 ± 7% VO2peak at: 50 rpm 100 rpm Measures: iEMG and MPF EMG of VL and VM during pedaling bout | iEMG of VL and VM ↑ during 100 rpm bout only MPF of VL and VM did not change at any cadences |
Pre vs. Post Cycling Exercise | |||
Ahlquist et al. (1992) | 8 physically active males (4 runners, 4 cyclists) Age: 20–40 yrs Mass: 81 ± 3 kg VO2peak = 56.8 mL.kg−1.min−1 | 30 min at 85% VO2peak (assessed at 75 rpm) at: 50 rpm 100 rpm Measures: muscle biopsy of VL—fiber glycogen depletion | No cadence effect on type I fiber Glycogen depletion 50 rpm > 100 rpm in type II fiber |
Beelen and Sargeant (1993) | 7 healthy males physically active Age: 27.9 ± 2.7 yrs Mass: 71.0 ± 11.6 kg | Pedaling 6 min at: 60 rpm and 90% VO2peak (291 ± 31W) (A) 120 rpm and 90% VO2peak (236 ± 30 W) (B) 60 rpm and same workrate as (B) (≈74 ± 11% of VO2peak) Measures: 25 s of maximal sprint on cycle ergometer at 60 and 120 rpm | At same VO2: ↓ peak power output or kinetic of power output during sprints without cadence effect At same workrate: Decrease in power output over the 25 s after bout at 120 rpm > 60 rpm |
Lepers et al. (2001) | 11 well-trained male cyclists with at least 4 yrs of racing experience Age: 28 ± 2 yrs Mass: 74 ± 5 kg Height = 183 ± 5 cm PPO = 384 ± 31 W VO2peak = 64.1 ± 4.5 mL.kg−1.min−1 | 30 min of cycling at 80% of PPO at: FCC (86 ± 4 rpm) FCC +20% (103 ± 5 rpm) FCC −20% (69 ± 3 rpm) Measures: Neuromuscular function of knee extensors muscles | MVC ISO and MVC CON120 ↓ without cadence effect MVC CON240 did not change at any cadence Voluntary activation level ↓ without cadence effect Mechanical evoked torque ↓ whatever the cadence M-wave amplitude did not change at any cadences |
Sarre et al. (2005) | 11 well-trained male cyclists with at least 4 yrs of racing experience Age: 27.8 ± 5.6 yrs Mass: 71.1 ± 7.8 kg PPO = 382 ± 43 W | 60 min at 65% PPO at: FCC (88 ± 11 rpm) 50 rpm 110 rpm Measures: Neuromuscular function of knee extensors and knee flexors muscles | MVC of knee extensors ↓ without cadence effect MVC of knee flexors ↓ after 50 and 110 rpm pedaling bout VAL ↓ without cadence effect EMG RMS/M-wave amplitude of VL and RF ↓ after the 110-rpm bout No change of EMG RMS/M-wave amplitude of VM Evoked torque ↓ whatever the cadence Area of M-waves of VL and VM ↓ after cycling at 50 rpm and FCC |
Marquez et al. (2009) | 10 physically team sport player males Age: 21 ± 4yrs Mass: 75 ± 6 kg 9.8 ± 2.2 h of training per week PPO = 310 ± 38 W | 15 min of cycling at 35% PPO at: FCC (71 rpm) FCC +20% (57 rpm) FCC −20% (85 rpm) Measures: CMJ before and immediately after pedaling bout | CMJ ↓ directly after bout at FCC and FCC −20% but remain unchanged after FCC +20% CMJ return to baseline after 1min of rest at FCC and FCC −20% |
Araujo Ruas et al. (2011) | 13 weight lifter males Age: 23.0 ± 3.7 yrs Mass: 77.1 ± 8.8 kg 3 weight lifting sessions per week | 30 min at onset of blood lactate accumulation (3.5 mmol.L−1) at: 50 rpm (82.5% PPO) 100 rpm (71.9% PPO) Measures: 3 sets of 10 RM leg press or 3 sets of 10 maximal countermovement jump | Leg press repetitions ↓ after 100 rpm compared with control condition and 50 rpm Mean CMJ height for all sets did not differed between condition |
Training Interventions | |||
Gergley et al. (2011) | 14 young moderately trained males Age: 18–23 yrs | 2 groups of concurrent training: 90 rpm (65% HRmax) + resistance training 70 rpm (65% HRmax) + resistance training 2 sessions per week during 9 weeks Measures: 1RM leg press | ↑ lower body strength in 70 rpm + resistance training group only |
Kristoffersen et al. (2014) | 22 well trained male veteran cyclists Age: 47 ± 6 yrs Mass: 78 ± 7 kg VO2max: 57.9 ± 3.7 mL kg−1 min−1 | 2 groups: 40 rpm—5 × 6 min at a HR of 73–82% HRmax measured (total of 91 ± 31 h of training) FCC (about 95 rpm) - (total of 88 ± 34 h of training) 2 sessions per week during 12 weeks Measures: 1RM leg press and leg extension | No significant difference in either 1RM leg press or leg extension |
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Mater, A.; Clos, P.; Lepers, R. Effect of Cycling Cadence on Neuromuscular Function: A Systematic Review of Acute and Chronic Alterations. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 7912. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157912
Mater A, Clos P, Lepers R. Effect of Cycling Cadence on Neuromuscular Function: A Systematic Review of Acute and Chronic Alterations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(15):7912. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157912
Chicago/Turabian StyleMater, Adrien, Pierre Clos, and Romuald Lepers. 2021. "Effect of Cycling Cadence on Neuromuscular Function: A Systematic Review of Acute and Chronic Alterations" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 15: 7912. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157912