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Biomechanics of elite recumbent handcycling: a case study

Influence of backrest position, crank length and crank height on muscular activity and upper body kinematics

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Abstract

In the presented research, a kinematic and electromyographic study was performed on one world-class male elite handbiker (UCI class H3.2). Activity of 14 muscles of the upper body were measured with surface electromyography (EMG), and a motion analysis of the athlete’s movement was performed concurrently for different backrest positions, crank lengths, and crank heights at three power levels (130, 160 and 190 W). Kinematics in terms of elbow and wrist angle, muscular on-off timing, EMG amplitudes, and integrated EMG were calculated. Results showed that little changes occurred for kinematic parameters and changes in position led to a shift in muscular timing. However, no indication for immediate improvement to the athlete’s preferred original position could be observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical, Health & Sports Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Vienna, Austria

    Stefan Litzenberger, Franziska Mally & Anton Sabo

  2. School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    Stefan Litzenberger, Franziska Mally & Anton Sabo

Authors
  1. Stefan Litzenberger
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  2. Franziska Mally
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  3. Anton Sabo
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Correspondence to Stefan Litzenberger.

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Litzenberger, S., Mally, F. & Sabo, A. Biomechanics of elite recumbent handcycling: a case study. Sports Eng 19, 201–211 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-016-0206-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-016-0206-x

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