Intra-Individual Variability in Sagittal Plane Kinematics During Indoor Cycling Time Trial

TL;DR

This study explores how movement variability in cyclists during a time trial might affect performance, finding that faster cyclists show less variability in certain joint movements.

Contribution

The study investigates the functional role of intra-individual movement variability in cycling performance during a simulated time trial.

Findings

Faster cyclists exhibited lower variability in knee–ankle coupling compared to slower cyclists.

Significant differences in coordination variability were observed across pedal phases.

Movement variability may be linked to time trial performance in laboratory conditions.

Abstract

Intra-individual movement variability has historically been discounted as evidence of poor motor control. However, evidence now suggests that it may play a functional role in skill performance and so this study aimed to establish whether this is the case during a simulated indoor cycling time trial. Ten trained cyclists (Age = 31.90 ± 10.30 years, Height = 1.80 ± 0.10 years, Mass = 72.10 ± 9.40 kg) participated in a 10-mile (16 km) time trial while sagittal plane kinematics were captured using 3D motion capture technology. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between knee–ankle and hip–knee coordination variability across pedal phases, with the knee–ankle coupling exhibiting more variability. Notably, faster cyclists demonstrated lower variability, particularly in the knee–ankle coupling, compared to slower cyclists. While no consistent relationship was found between movement variability and time trial performance across all participants, the results suggest that there may be a link between the level of intra-individual movement variability displayed by a cyclist and the time in which they were able to complete a 10-mile simulated time trial task in laboratory conditions.

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