Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of toe-clips, pedaling rate and work-load on the muscle activity of the lower extremities during ergometric cycling. Ten healthy subjects (mean age 24.0 ± 2.6 years) participated in this study. Electromyographic activity during ergometric cycling was measured in the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, semimenbranosus, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius medialis, and tibialis anterior. Ergometric cycling was performed under two toe-clip conditions (with or without), two pedaling rates (40 rpm, 60 rpm), and three work-loads (0.5 kp, 1.0 kp, 2.0 kp). The muscle activity of the rectus femoris was significantly greater with use of the toe-clips than without. However, muscle activity of the semimenbranosus and biceps femoris was greater without the use of the toe-clips during the knee extension phase (down-stroke).
By varying the pedaling rate, there was a significant difference in the muscle activity of all the muscles except for the rectus femoris, semimenbranosus and biceps femoris during the knee flexion phase (up-stroke). By increasing the work-load, the activity of all the muscles also increased, except for the semimenbranosus and biceps femoris.
These results suggest that toe-clips, pedaling rate and work-load have different effects on muscle activity in the lower extremities during ergometeric cycling.
