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. 2024 Jul;48(7):1879-1886.
doi: 10.1007/s00264-024-06196-3. Epub 2024 May 3.

Bone morphology and physical characteristics of the pro-cyclist hip joint

Shunsuke Akiho  1   2   3 , Ryuki Hashida  4   5 , Yoshihiko Tagawa  4 , Akira Maeyama  6 , Koichi Kinoshita  6 , Kazuki Kanazawa  7 , Hiroo Matsuse  4   5 , Masafumi Hara  8 , Takuaki Yamamoto  6
Affiliations

Bone morphology and physical characteristics of the pro-cyclist hip joint

Shunsuke Akiho et al. Int Orthop. 2024 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the radiographic findings for the hip joint and hip range of motion in professional cyclists, and to determine their bone morphology and physical characteristics. The effects of physical characteristics on athletic performance were examined in terms of metabolic efficiency using simulation analysis.

Methods: We performed a case-control research study on 22 hips in 11 male professional cyclists (average age 28.5, height 1.73 m, weight 77.6 kg). Thirty hips in 15 healthy male volunteers were selected as controls. As radiographic evaluations, acetabular dysplasia was assessed on standardized radiographs. During physical evaluations, the hip range of motion was examined. We used simulation analysis to investigate the metabolic efficiency in the different cycling forms.

Results: The radiographic evaluations showed a significant difference in the incidence of acetabular dysplasia (p = 0.01): 59% (13/22 hips) in the pro-cyclist group versus 10% (3/30 hips) in the control group. The physical evaluations revealed significant differences in the hip internal rotation angle (p = 0.01), with greater ranges of internal rotation in the pro-cyclist group versus the control group. The simulation analyses showed that metabolism was reduced in the cycling form with hip internal rotation, especially in the lower extremities.

Conclusions: Pro-cyclists showed a high frequency of acetabular dysplasia and superior hip internal rotation. According to the cycling model analyses, hip internal rotation allowed pedaling with reduced metabolic power.

Keywords: Acetabular dysplasia; Hip internal rotation; Metabolic efficiency; Professional cyclists; Range of motion; Simulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Radiographic evaluations
Fig.2
Fig.2
Comparison of metabolic power for different forms of cycling athletes
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The anteroposterior radiographs and corresponding LCEA data for Pro-cyclist Case 1 and Control Case 1
Fig.4
Fig.4
Differences in form and metabolic energy
Fig.5
Fig.5
Differences in form and metabolic power of each lower limb muscle
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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