Open AccessDuring Cycling What Limits Maximum Mechanical Power Output at Cadences above 120 rpm?
Author(s) -
Emma F. Hodson-Tole,
Ollie M. Blake,
James M. Wakeling
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
medicine and science in sports and exercise
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.703
H-Index - 224
eISSN - 1530-0315
pISSN - 0195-9131
DOI - 10.1249/mss.0000000000002096
Subject(s) - cadence , cycling , mathematics , duty cycle , muscle power , electromyography , physical medicine and rehabilitation , power (physics) , motor coordination , psychology , physics , medicine , neuroscience , archaeology , quantum mechanics , history
A key determinant of muscle coordination and maximum power output during cycling is pedaling cadence. During cycling, the neuromuscular system may select from numerous solutions that solve the task demands while producing the same result. For more challenging tasks, fewer solutions will be available. Changes in the variability of individual muscle excitations (EMG) and multimuscle coordination, quantified by entropic half-life (EnHL), can reflect the number of solutions available at each system level. We, therefore, ask whether reduced variability in muscle coordination patterns occur at critical cadences and if they coincide with reduced variability in excitations of individual muscles.