Affiliations: [a] Laboratoire de Modélisation des Activités
Sportives, Bourget du Lac, France | [b] Centre de Recherche & Développement
Décathlon, Villeneuve d'Asq, France | [c] Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport,
Lyon, France | [d] Physiologie et Physiopathologie de l'Exercice et
Handicap, Saint-Etienne, France
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Frederique Hintzy, Laboratoire de
Modélisation des Activités Sportives, Université de Savoie – CISM,
73 376 Bourget du Lac, France. Fax: +33 4 79 75 81 48; E-mail:
frederique.hintzy@univ-savoie.fr
Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe elliptical cycle locomotion by
muscular, kinematics, physiological and perceptual parameters during submaximal
and maximal exercises. Seven men performed an incremental test until
exhaustion. Pulse rate, ratings of perceived exertion (6–20 Borg's scale),
muscular activity of 8 muscles (higher and lower limbs muscles) and elbow,
shoulder, hip and knee joint amplitudes were continuously recorded. Pulse rate
reached about 70% of the theoretical maximal pulse rate after 3 minutes of submaximal exercise and about 95% at the end of the maximal
exercise; the sensation of this effort being respectively described as "weak"
and "very hard". EMG analysis indicated that all investigated muscles were
activated, especially knee and hip extensor muscles. Kinematic analysis showed
that all joints were activated especially the elbow, shoulder and knee. The
elliptical cycle locomotion led to global body activation (both higher and
lower limbs activity) and therefore induced a relatively significant cardiac
activation even at low intensity. We therefore suggest that elliptical cycle
locomotion is a unique pattern.
