Differences in the Joint Movements and Muscle Activities of Novice according to Cycle Pedal Type

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the joint movements and muscle activities of novicesaccording to pedal type (flat, clip, and cleat pedal).Method: Nine novice male subjects (age: 24.4 ± 1.9 years, height: 1.77 ± 0.05 m, weight: 72.4 ± 7.6 kg, shoesize: 267.20 ± 7.50 mm) participated in 3-minute, 60-rpm cycle pedaling tests with the same load andcadence. Each of the subject’s saddle height was determined by the 155° knee flexion angle when the pedalcrank was at the 6 o``clock position (25° knee angle method). The muscle activities of the vastus lateralis,tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius medialis were compared by using electromyographyduring 4 pedaling phases (phase 1: 330~30°, phase 2: 30~150°, phase 3: 150~210°, and phase 4: 210~330°).Results: The knee joint movement (range of motion) and maximum dorsiflexion angle of the ankle jointwith the flat pedal were larger than those of the clip and cleat pedals. The maximum plantarflexion timingwith the flat and clip pedals was faster than that of the flat pedal. Electromyography revealed that thevastus lateralis muscle activity with the flat pedal was greater than that with the clip and cleat pedals.Conclusion: With the clip and cleat pedals, the joint movements were limited but the muscle activitieswere more effective than that with the flat pedal. The novice cannot benefit from the clip and cleat pedalsregardless of their pull-up pedaling advantage. Therefore, the novice should perform the skilled pullinguppedaling exercise in order to benefit from the clip and cleat pedals in terms of pedaling performance.