FrankDay said:
Want a little more
evidence technique matters? Muscle coordination is key to the power output and mechanical efficiency of limb
movements, J. M. Wakeling, O. M. Blake and H. K. Chan, The Journal of Experimental Biology 213, 487-492
"During steady, level locomotion the skeletal muscles must
generate the power required for the movement and thus the
locomotor performance cannot exceed the power available from the
muscles. The results from this study show that the maximum power
output from the limbs occurs when neither all joints nor all muscles
are operating at their individual maximum power output. Instead,
both the power output and mechanical efficiency of the limb are
limited by the coordination pattern of the muscles.
SUMMARY
(1) When a limb is operating at maximal power output, not all its
joints need rotate at velocities where their maximum power output
can be achieved.
(2) Even muscles that are shortening at their optimal speed for
maximal power production may not be fully activated to achieve
high limb power.
(3) The same mechanical output from the limb can be achieved with
different patterns of coordination.
(4) Increases in muscle activity can lead to decreases in efficiency
with no increase in power output if the coordination is inappropriate.
(5) Power output from the limb cannot exceed the maximum power
that can be produced by the muscles, but does seem to be limited
by the coordination patterns of those muscles.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Dr Steve Robinovitch for the loan of the Biodex dynamometer and
NSERC for financial support.
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J. M. Wakeling, O. M. Blake and H. K. Chan
THE JOURNAL "
What exactly is this telling you and how will it assist you in improving your technique or is it as CF said just another one of those useless studies where improving pedalling technique is concerned ?