NO BILATERAL ASYMMETRY DURING PEDALLING IN HEALTHY CYCLISTS OF DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE LEVELS

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The main purpose of this study was to analyse the pedalling force symmetry in cycling, and the possible influence of performance level and pedalling power on it; additionally, the 2D pedalling kinematics symmetry was analysed. Forty-seven road cyclists of different competitive levels (Study 1) and eighty-four club cyclists (Study 2) participated. Their bikes were replicated in a cycle ergometer with instrumented cranks, and they pedalled at 200-250-300 W (Study 1) and a self-selected power ?185 W (Study 2). In both studies 2D kinematics of the right leg was analysed, and in the Study 1 the left leg was also analysed. In conclusion, the pedalling movement could be considered symmetric from kinematic and kinetic points of view; and the slight force differences found in the dominant leg (below 2%) could be related to the chainring location and the right-dominance of general population, which constitutes further investigation.