Kinematic Measures With The Highest Influence On Pedaling Comfort

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to identify the kinematic measures with highest degree of influence on road bikers riding discomfort. METHODS: This is an experimental-designed study, based on repeated measures. The Feeling Scale was used to measure perceived riding discomfort pre and post a 3D-kinematic-guided bikefitting method on competitive road bikers. A student t-test for paired samples was used to analyze the changes in participant´s self-reported riding discomfort. The ANOVA of repeated measures was used to identify the 3D kinematic measures that showed significant changes. A multiple linear regression model was fitted to the data, with selection of the best model by the Backward method. RESULTS: Older subjects tend to report significantly smaller changes in riding discomfort level (p = 0.033), and therefore appear to be less sensitive to changes from ergonomic adjustments; the same effect occurred for training volume in kilometers per month and experience with the sport. Decreases in the BA measure produces significant reduction in participant´s riding discomfort (p = 0.005); and Increases in the HWH measure produce significant reduction in participant´s riding discomfort (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: General riding discomfort was significantly reduced in road bikers, and this effect was mostly due to the changes in two kinematic measures: Back Angle or BA (the angle of the lower back relative to the horizon defined by the hip and shoulder marker) and Hip to Wrist Horizontal or HWH (the horizontal distance between hip and wrist markers). Supported by: This research was funded by Coordenação para o Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) with protocol number #001 (Brazil) and by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) protocol number UIDB/04585/2020 (Portugal).