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Effect of seat tube angle and crank arm length on metabolic and neuromuscular responses and lower extremity joint kinematics during pedaling with a relatively lower seat height

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Abstract

Purpose

The effects of the seat tube angle and crank arm length on metabolic responses, neuromuscular activation, and lower extremity joint kinematics were investigated during bicycling with a relatively lower seat height usually used for daily life.

Methods

Eleven young males performed bicycling on ergometer with various seat tube angles (60°, 65°, and 70°) and crank arm lengths (127, 140, 152, and 165 mm). Oxygen consumption was measured with electromyography of the knee extensor muscle, and hip, knee, and ankle joint angles. The seat height was set as the shorter than subject’s trochanter height, because this study simulates pedaling a bicycle in daily life on public roads.

Results

Significantly higher oxygen consumption was noted with a 70° of seat tube angle on comparison with a 65° of seat tube angle (p < 0.05). There were no significant effects of the crank arm length on oxygen consumption (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

From these results, the present study suggests that a shallower seat angle could help to decrease the physiological burden during bicycling with a relatively lower seat height.

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Abbreviations

ARV:

Averaged rectified value

EMG:

Electromyography

SD:

Standard deviation

\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) :

Oxygen uptake

VL:

Vastus lateralis

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Sagisaka Co., Ltd, Toyota, Japan. We would also like to thank Messrs. Shinsuke Sagisaka and Masato Noguchi of Sagisaka Co., Ltd for providing some bicycle parts and valuable comments for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of International Liberal Studies, Chukyo University, Yagotohonmachi, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8666, Japan

    Kohei Watanabe

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  1. Kohei Watanabe
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Correspondence to Kohei Watanabe.

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There were no conflict of interest for the present study.

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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Watanabe, K. Effect of seat tube angle and crank arm length on metabolic and neuromuscular responses and lower extremity joint kinematics during pedaling with a relatively lower seat height. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 697–706 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04309-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04309-5

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