Assessment of the Acute Effect of Cycling Practice in Lumbar and Thigh Muscles

A crossover randomized controlled trial. The participation in the study requires only 2 assistances to the data takings that will be developed in the training laboratory of the Faculty of Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport of the European University. 40 amateur cyclists will be randomly assigned to carry out each (2) conditions of intervention: a road bike time trial (CA) and a mountain bike time trial (MT) separated by 7 days washout. *Randomization marks the order in which participants are subjected to an intervention condition or other.

These sessions will begin with an initial assessment, which will be carried out: an anthropometric assessment (height and weight), followed to an evaluation of the tensiomyographic variable maximal radial displacement (Dm) over the thigh muscles: vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and erector spinae (EE) at the lumbar level, before and after an acute effort (> 3 hours) in CA and MT bicycle. Respect to pain assessment, it will be measured the intensity pain perception on the lumbar region (LBPP) by using a 0 to 10 numeric pain-rating scale; the pressure pain threshold (PPT) with a manual mechanical algometer; and the functional disability caused by LBP through the Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ).

• 3 hours Road Cycling Time Trial (Other): The road itinerary is a mixed route profile of 90 km, an elevation gain of 900 m, with mixed sections, flat, uphill and down over roads with little traffic.
• 3 hours Mountain Biking Time Trial (Other): The mountain itinerary, is a mixed route of 55 km, an elevation gain of 600 m, with sections of wide tracks and trails, flat, uphill and down, with a medium technical difficulty.

Primary outcomes

• Low Back Pain Perception (LBPP) [Change between Baseline and 3 hours]: This variable records the intensity pain perceived on the lumbar region (LBPP) by using a 0 to 10 numeric pain-rating scale (NPRS). This is an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). The LBPP was measured before and after completing each time trial.
• Maximal Radial Displacement (Dm) [Baseline and after 3 hours]: The variable Dm is given by the radial displacement of the muscular belly in a transverse plane, expressed in milimeters (mm) and depends on muscle tone or stiffness. A low Dm is related to a high muscle tone or an excess of stiffness, while a high Dm value indicates a lack of muscle tone or stiffness defect.
• Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) [Baseline and after 3 hours]: Measured from 0 to 10kg/cm2 with a manual mechanical algometer (FDK/FDN, Wagner Instruments, 1217 Greenwich, CT 06836), which has bilaterally shown an excellent reliability, reproducibility, and sensitivity on the lumbar erector spinae muscles.

Secondary outcomes

• Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) [Baseline]: The functional disability caused by LBP through the Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ). The score ranges from 0 to 24, with 0 indicating no disability and 24 maximum disability.

Sex: Male, ages: 18 Years to 55 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Be a man
* Aged between 18 and 55 years.
* Minimum experience in the practice of cycling over 3 years
* Accumulate at least 200 hours of training each year.
* Not having received specific treatment in the musculature evaluated in the last 4 weeks, or being subjected to any treatment at present.
* No pathology diagnosed in the anatomical regions interested in the study (lumbar, thigh, hip or knee).
* Sign the informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* Have had strenuous exercise in the previous 48 hours
* Having taken energy drinks in the last 48 hours
* Have ingested alcohol or caffeine in the 3 hours prior to taking data.

Participant flow

Outcome results

• Low Back Pain Perception (LBPP) (Primary), Mean, units on a scale: Road Cycling First, Then Mountain Biking 1 +/- 1.4; Mountain Biking First, Then Road Cycling 0.8 +/- 1.2
• Maximal Radial Displacement (Dm) (Primary), Mean, mm: Road Cycling First, Then Mountain Biking 7.6 +/- 2.1; Mountain Biking First, Then Road Cycling. 7.2 +/- 2.2
• Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) (Primary), Mean, kg/cm^2: Road Cycling First, Then Mountain Biking 5 +/- 2; Mountain Biking First, Then Road Cycling. 4.7 +/- 1.9
• Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) (Secondary), Count of participants, Participants: All Study Participants 22

Adverse events

Time frame: All-Cause Mortality, Serious, and Other Adverse Events were not monitored/assessed.

• Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan, and Informed Consent Form (PDF, 2019-03-11)