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Step by step analysis of bicycle mounting and dismounting : strategies and kinematics

Straathof, Paul T.C. (2014) Step by step analysis of bicycle mounting and dismounting : strategies and kinematics.

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Abstract:2 Summary In The Netherlands, famous for its bicycles and cycling lanes, every year 18000 older cyclists get into a single-bicycle accident severe enough to require medical attention. A considerable part of these accidents happen at low velocities or when mounting and dismounting the bicycle. Contrary to the normal cycling movements, only little is known about the mounting and dismounting of a bicycle and the risks involved for elderly cyclists. This study aims to describe and categorize the various ways a bicycle can be mounted and dismounted and the effects of age and gender are assessed. This is also done for the kinematics and physical and cognitive abilities of the participants. The participants are split in 2 groups, based on their age: 13 between the age of 18 to 40 years old and 33 above 65 years old. Of the group of older subjects 13 had a bicycle fall history and were considered to be the fall risk group. The kinematic and video data was used from a previous study, which was also part of the SOFIE project at RRD, where the subjects wore 10 wireless inertial measurement units while mounting, cycling and dismounting a bicycle. From these mounting and dismounting phases the video data was used to describe and categorize the various methods used by the subjects. After this a quantitative assessment was made to find a relationship between the kinematic parameters and age, gender and fall risk as well as their cognitive and physical abilities. From the videos 2 mounting, 3 dismounting, and 2 waiting categories where identified. The largest difference between the mounting and dismounting categories could be seen in which foot was first placed on or removed from the pedal. The older cyclists as well as the female subjects prefer other strategies than the young or male subjects. This can best be seen during mounting where 70% of the young cyclists lift their inner foot through the frame and place it on the outside pedal while 80% of the older cyclists prefer to put their outer foot on the inside pedal which is on the same side of the bicycle as they are. They gain speed by stepping with their inner foot, while the young subjects gain speed by stepping with their outside foot or by pushing their inside foot hard down onto the pedal. Additionally bicycle and cyclist kinematics could be related to age, gender and fall risk, as well as cognitive and physical abilities and the properties of the bicycle itself. The differences and effects found in this study are a start in explaining the high injury risk for older and female cyclists in single-bicycle accidents.
Item Type:Internship Report (Master)
Clients:
Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, the Netherlands
Faculty:TNW: Science and Technology
Subject:42 biology
Programme:Biomedical Engineering MSc (66226)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/65966
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