Pedalling Strength Analysis in Pathological and Non-pathological Subjects on Cycle-ergometer Instrumented with Three-components Pedals

This paper presents the results obtained by the use of a cycle-ergometer with pedals apt to simultaneously measuring the three components of the forces by piezo-resistive three-axial load cells. The results of this new research are shown and highlight some points of originality with respect to the previous studies of the authors. Experimental tests on an ergometer with mono-axial load cells allowed to detect some quantitative parameters of the rehabilitation level for the lower limbs and of the ‘quality’ of the pedalling movement. On the base of the measurement of the forces and of the angular position of the pedals, it is possible to calculate the joint torques on the articulations by means of an inverse dynamics procedure. This new experimental study allows to collect and analyze quantitative data of normal and tangential components of pedal force, in the parasagittal plane plus the lateral component, in the coronal or frontal plane. This approach can be used to detect new extremely interesting parameters both in rehabilitation and sport medicine: in this case it is possible to get better position and improve pedalling performances in elite athletes.