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Influence of a Gait-Pattern-Based Crank Drive System on Knee Joint Load During Stand-Up Cycling

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Abstract

This study proposes a crank drive system that considers gait characteristics and is without dead points (GP-crank) to decrease the knee joint load for stand-up bicycles. A comparative experiment was conducted from the perspective of cycling kinematics to investigate the differences between the proposed GP-crank and conventional crank drive systems. The pedaling motion was analyzed by measuring the three-dimensional movements and pedal reaction forces of 16 subjects driving cranks in a standing posture. Although no significant differences were found in the peak pedal reaction force, flexion angle of the lower limb joints, and joint flexion moments between the drive systems, the vertical displacement of the center of body mass was significantly smaller for the GP-crank. In addition, the knee joint was extended for the GP-crank at the time the knee moment reached its maximum. Consequently, decreased knee joint stress of the GP-crank was demonstrated by its comparatively reduced vertical displacement of the center of body mass and stress on the knee joint. This study shows that the disadvantages of existing stand-up bicycles can be addressed by using the proposed GP-crank.

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Acknowledgements

This study has been conducted with the support of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH JG-19100) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Republic of Korea (Grant Number BW160014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, 143 Hanggaulro, Sangnok-Gu, Ansan-Si, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, South Korea

    Joonho Hyeong, Jongryun Roh & Sayup Kim

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  1. Joonho Hyeong
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  2. Jongryun Roh
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  3. Sayup Kim
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Correspondence to Sayup Kim.

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Hyeong, J., Roh, J. & Kim, S. Influence of a Gait-Pattern-Based Crank Drive System on Knee Joint Load During Stand-Up Cycling. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. 20, 837–844 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-019-00106-z

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