Abstract
Cycling can be performed on the road or indoors on stationary ergometers. The purpose
of this study was to investigate differences in cycling efficiency, muscle activity
and pedal forces during cycling on a stationary turbo trainer compared with a treadmill.
19 male cyclists cycled on a stationary turbo trainer and on a treadmill at 150, 200
and 250 W. Cycling efficiency was determined using the Douglas bags, muscle activity
patterns were determined using surface electromyography and pedal forces were recorded
with instrumented pedals. Treadmill cycling induced a larger muscular contribution
from Gastrocnemius Lateralis, Biceps Femoris and Gluteus Maximus of respectively 14%,
19% and 10% compared with turbo trainer cycling (p<0.05). Conversely, Turbo trainer cycling induced larger muscular contribution from
Vastus Lateralis, Rectus Femoris and Tibialis Anterior of respectively 7%, 17% and
14% compared with treadmill cycling (p<0.05). The alterations in muscle activity resulted in a better distribution of power
during the pedal revolution, as determined by an increased Dead Centre size (p<0.05). Despite the alterations in muscle activity and pedalling technique, no difference
in efficiency between treadmill (18.8±0.7%) and turbo trainer (18.5±0.6%) cycling
was observed. These results suggest that cycling technique and type of ergometer can
be altered without affecting cycling efficiency.
Key words
ergometry - treadmill - electromyography - pedal forces - muscle activity
