Abstract
Workload and experience in cycling have been suggested as factors influencing joint kinematics in cycling. The aims of our study were to (1) compare cyclists and non-cyclists lower limb kinematics and (2) to assess the effects of different workload levels on joint kinematics of cyclists and non-cyclists. Fifteen male athletes with experience in road cycling and triathlon competitions and fourteen male non-athletes volunteered to take part in the study. They performed an incremental test to exhaustion using their own bicycles (athletes) or a road bicycle set for their body dimensions(non-athletes). Right sagittal plane kinematics and gases exchanges were collected during the test. Ventilatory thresholds related workloads were defined for offline analysis of lower limb joint kinematics. Greater ankle range of motion was observed for athletes (17%) and non-athletes (25%) at maximal workload level compared to lower workload levels. Greater forward body position was observed for athletes (∼ 12%) and non-athletes (5–7%). Smaller hip flexion was observed for non-athletes compared to athletes (7%). Sub maximal workload level did not substantially affect lower limb joint kinematics. Similar lower limb joint motion between athletes and non-athletes suggests that changes in road cycling training may not result in different joint kinematics.