Saddle place effect on the leg joints range of motion and muscles contraction velocity in ergometer: parametric study

Pedaling is recognized as one of the most widely used therapies in rehabilitation. Which is influenced by various factors. Studying the effect of saddle position and saddle height (horizontal and vertical distance of saddle from pedal, respectively) changes in the pedaling feasible places range (saddle height range: 49-80% of leg length) on the leg joints range of motion and muscles contraction velocity are the purposes of this study. The pedaling conditions with ergometer are obtained in the model (crank arm length and pedaling rate are 17.5 cm and 80 rpm, respectively). Results indicate that ankle, knee and hip joints range of motion are 11.08-37.54 (SD: 0.03-1.86), 69.61-80.58 (SD: 4.02-9.76) and 42.89-46.13 (SD: 0.07-2.89), respectively. The effect of saddle height changes on ankle>knee>hip and the effect of saddle position changes on knee>hip>ankle range of motion. By increasing the saddle height, ankle and knee joints range of motion increase significantly. The positive correlation between ankle-knee, ankle-hip and knee-hip joints, show the coordination and the cooperation of joints during cycling. The saddle place changes affect the contraction velocity of lower limb muscles. In particular, by changing the saddle place in the feasible places, the contraction velocity of ankle, knee and biarticular muscle groups change in a wide range.