Oxygenation, local muscle oxygen consumption and joint specific power in cycling: the effect of cadence at a constant external work rate

PURPOSE: The present study investigates the effect of cadence on joint specific power and oxygenation and local muscle oxygen consumption in the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis in addition to the relationship between joint specific power and local muscle oxygen consumption (mVO(2)). METHODS: Seventeen recreationally active cyclists performed 6 stages of constant load cycling using cadences of 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 rpm. Joint specific power was calculated using inverse dynamics and mVO(2) and oxygenation were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: Increasing cadence led to increased knee joint power and decreased hip joint power while the ankle joint was unaffected. Increasing cadence also led to an increased deoxygenation in both the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis. Vastus lateralis mVO(2) increased when cadence was increased. No effect of cadence was found for vastus medialis mVO(2). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a different effect of cadence on the mVO(2) of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis. The combined mVO(2) of the vastus lateralis and medialis showed a linear increase with increasing knee joint specific power, demonstrating that the muscles combined related to power generated over the joint.