Angular position of the cleat according to torsional parameters of the cyclist’s lower limb

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this work was to study the relationship of torsional and rotational parameters of the lower limb with a specific angular position of the cleat to establish whether these variables affect the adjustment of the cleat. Design: Correlational study. Setting: Motion analysis laboratory. Participants: Thirty-seven male cyclists of high performance. Interventions: The variables studied of the cyclist’s lower limb were hip rotation (internal and external), tibial torsion angle, Q angle, and forefoot adductus angle. Main Outcome Measures: The cleat angle was measured through a photograph of the sole and with an Rx of this using the software AutoCAD 2008. The variables were photograph angle (photograph), the variable denominated cleat-tarsus minor angle, and a variable denominated cleat-second metatarsal angle (Rx). Analysis included the intraclass correlation coefficient for the reliability of the measurements, Student’s t test performed on the dependent variables to compare side, and the multiple linear regression models were calculated using the software SPSS 15.0 for Windows. Results: The Student’s t test performed on the dependent variables to compare side showed no significant differences (P = 0.209 for the photograph angle, P = 0.735 for the cleat-tarsus minor angle, and P = 0.801 for the cleat-second metatarsal angle). Values of R and R2 for the photograph angle model were 0.303 and 0.092 (P = 0.08), the cleat/tarsus minor angle model were 0.683 and 0.466 (P , 0.001), and the cleat/second metatarsal angle model were 0.618 and 0.382, respec tively (P , 0.001). Conclusions: The equation given by the model was cleat tarsus minor angle = 75.094 2 (0.521 · forefoot adductus angle) + (0.116 · outward rotation of the hips) + (0.220 · Q angle)