Jul 01, 2025
The Effect of Pedal Cadence on Neuromuscular and Physiological Responses: A Scoping Review
- Alexey Antonov1,
- Nikolay Sokolov1,
- Alexander Miroshnikov1
- 1Russian university of sports "GTSOLIFK"
Protocol Citation: Alexey Antonov, Nikolay Sokolov, Alexander Miroshnikov 2025. The Effect of Pedal Cadence on Neuromuscular and Physiological Responses: A Scoping Review . protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5qpvow4x7l4o/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: May 05, 2025
Last Modified: July 01, 2025
Protocol Integer ID: 217740
Keywords: Cycling, pedal frequency, motor unit activation, neuromuscular function, fatigue, performance, effect of pedal cadence, pedal cadence, pedal speed, pedal speed on the activation, neuromuscular, physiological response, optimal parameters for different training, different training
Disclaimer
Funding sources/sponsors: None
Conflicts of interest: None
Abstract
The aim of the study is to summarise the data on the influence of pedal speed on the activation of motor units and to determine the optimal parameters for different training and competition conditions.
Guidelines
The study will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement.
Inclusion criteria base on the PICOS system.
To increase the breadth of coverage, we will also screen reference lists of potentially relevant studies.
We will not limit our search by publication date or language. If it is not possible to obtain a study from a publicly available database, we will contact the authors by email and wait for a response within 14 days.
Search strategy:
Troubleshooting
Abstract
Speed of movement plays a key role in determining various aspects of physical performance, especially in cycling. Cadence (C), measured in pedal revolutions per minute, is an important factor influencing the body's metabolic and mechanical responses to exercise intensity. Research shows that high C at low exercise intensities is associated with increased heart rate and blood lactate concentrations, while at submaximal loads, performance decreases at higher C. These differences are due to the activation of different muscle fiber types (type I, IIa, IIx), which have different metabolic and biomechanical properties. Fast-twitch fibers, active at high C, are less energetically efficient but have high contractile power. In addition, the preferred C in elite athletes varies with training level, reflecting individual differences in fiber type distribution and neuromuscular capabilities.
Original language title
In Russian: Влияние частоты вращения педалей на нейромышечные и физиологические реакции: обзор предметного поля
Anticipated or actual start date
06.05.2025
Anticipated completion date
06.06.2025
Stage of review at time of this registration
Pilot screening has completed
Contacts
Moscow, Sirenevy Boulevard, 4
+792681033**
Organisational affiliation of the review
Center for Sports Innovative Technologies and Training of National Teams of the Moscow City Sports Department
The Russian University of sports "GTSOLIFK"
Inclusion Criteria (PICOS)
P – Healthy professional cyclists, recreational cyclists and active people; I – Performance of exercise protocols on a bicycle ergometer with different cycling cadences; C – Comparison with a control group or comparison of protocols with each other; O – Tests assessing physiological and biochemical parameters; S – controlled randomized and non-randomized studies.
Exclusion Criteria
Books, research published in collections of materials of scientific and practical conferences
Selection and extraction
In parallel by two authors
Protocol references
Böning D., Gönen Y., Maassen N. (1984). Relationship between work load, pedal frequency, and physical fitness. Int. J. Sports Med. 5, 92–97. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1025887
Tricco AC, Lillie E, Zarin W, O'Brien KK, Colquhoun H, Levac D, Moher D, Peters MDJ, Horsley T, Weeks L, Hempel S, Akl EA, Chang C, McGowan J, Stewart L, Hartling L, Aldcroft A, Wilson MG, Garritty C, Lewin S, Godfrey CM, Macdonald MT, Langlois EV, Soares-Weiser K, Moriarty J, Clifford T, Tunçalp Ö, Straus SE. PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Oct 2;169(7):467-473. doi: 10.7326/M18-0850.
Amir-Behghadami M., Janati A. Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Study (PICOS) design as a framework to formulate eligibility criteria in systematic reviews // Emerg Med J. 2020. №37(6). P. 387. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2020-209567.
McHugh, M.L. Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic. Biochem Med (Zagreb). 2012. №22(3). P.276-82.
Buchanan M., Weltman A. (1985). Effects of pedal frequency on V.O2 and work output at lactate threshold (LT), fixed blood lactate concentrations of 2 mM and 4 mM, and max in competitive cyclists. Int. J. Sports Med. 6, 163–168. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1025832