Physiological and kinematic screening of trained hand cyclists

Introduction

In a sporting context, handcycling was first included in the Paralympic Games in 2004 and has been integrated into the International Cycling Union since 2007. In the 2016 Paralympic Games athletes competed in 13 events, ‘road races and time trials’, across 5 classifications. Currently, very little is known about how trained handcyclists configure their own handbikes and how this impacts upon their propulsion strategies. The project aims to identify how trained athletes configure their handcycles and to develop a kinematic profile for trained handcyclists.

What does the project involve?

It involves trained handcyclists attending the laboratory to complete a number of physiological and biomechanical tests in their own handbike. The participants complete a submaximal and maximal exercise test to determine their physiological profile. Markers are then attached to the hands, arms and shoulders of the participants to enable upper-limb kinematics to be recorded. The participants’ then handcycle at a number of different exercise intensities while upper-limb kinematics are collected.

The effects of handbike configuration on performance

Handcycling performance is dependent upon 3 factors:

• The capabilities of the athlete
• The design of the handbike
• The interaction between athlete and handbike

Over the last decade, there have been considerable advances in handbike design and the physical conditioning of elite handcyclists. Yet very little is known about the impact of the interface between the athlete and the handbike on endurance performance and injury risk.

How do we know what to manipulate?

A qualitative study was conducted to explore how expert users (athletes, coaches, manufacturers and members of the athlete support team) perceive the handbike-user interface to impact upon performance (opposite page). Themes emerged regarding a number of critical components of the interface which were thought to impact upon performance and thus warranted future quantitative research.

How will it be investigated?

The identified components will be manipulated independently, under sport-specific conditions in a laboratory, to determine their effects on efficiency. A multidisciplinary approach, involving the measurement of variables such as gas analysis, heart rate, blood lactate concentration, upper-limb kinematics and cycle kinetics, will be employed in order to gain the fullest insight into the impact of handbike configuration on performance.

Why this is important?

The results of this research will enable the handbike-user interface to be optimised with regard to efficiency and performance. Furthermore, the results from this project could also be transferred to the everyday handcyclist enhancing their mobility.

Reference

Stone, B., Mason, B. S., Bundon, A., & Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L. (2019). Elite handcycling: a qualitative analysis of recumbent handbike configuration for optimal sports performance. Ergonomics, 62(3), 449-458. DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2018.1531149