Correlation analysis between lower limb muscle architectures and cycling power via ultrasonography

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 5362
• Main Authors: Lee, Hyung-Jin, Lee, Kang-Woo, Takeshi, Kurokawa, Lee, Yong-Woo, Kim, Hee-Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 08-03-2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 692/698/1671; 692/700/1421/1860; Adult; Bicycling; Bicycling - physiology; Correlation analysis; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Lower Extremity - physiology; Male; multidisciplinary; Muscle Strength - physiology; Quadriceps Muscle - physiology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84870-x

The primary purpose was to examine the relationship between the muscle architectural characteristics of short and long-distance cyclist—including muscle thickness, fascicle angle, and fascicle length—of the anterior thigh and posterior leg and its impact in 20-s cycling power. The secondary purpose was to clarify the muscle variables that predict the cycling power by using ultrasonography to measure the muscle architectural characteristics. Twenty-four varsity cyclists participated in this study, of whom 12 were short-distance cyclists and 12 were long-distance cyclists. B-mode ultrasonography was used to measure muscle architecture parameters. A cycle ergometer was used to measure the cycling power. The rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and medial head of gastrocnemius were significantly thicker in short-distance cyclists than in long-distance cyclists at every site (
p
 < 0.05). Our analysis revealed that the rectus femoris fascicle length at the 30% level of the thigh was a significant independent predictor of the 20-s cycling power in short-distance cyclists, while the rectus femoris fascicle angle at the 50% level was that of the 20-s cycling power in long-distance cyclists. These findings highlight the significance of rectus femoris muscle architecture to cycling power.