The Effect of Anthropometric Measurement on Cycling Performance among Competitive Cyclists in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship between the anthropometric characteristics of lower limbs and 1 km cycling performance among the competitive cyclists in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional research design which was descriptive was used. Simple random sampling was used in selecting fifty competitive cyclists. Methods: The anthropometric measurements were of height, body weight, length of the femur, length of the tibia, full leg length, thigh circumference, and calf circumference. Measurements of femur, tibia, and full leg length were measured twice and averaged and thigh and calf circumference were measured thrice under relaxed conditions and under contracted conditions and have been averaged. Cycling performance was assessed through a 1 km individual time trial conducted twice, with the best recorded time used for analysis. The analyses were done through descriptive statistics, Pearson and Spearman correlation, multiple regression analysis, partial correlation analysis, collinearity diagnosis, and residual analysis. Results: The outcomes showed that thigh circumference and calf circumference had significant negative relationships with 1 km time trial performance (r =-0.543, p < 0.001) and performance (r =-0.414, p < 0.01); the higher the muscle girth, the faster the completion time. Part correlation analysis also revealed that the thigh and calf circumferences had independent effect on the cycling performance in the event of control of either of the two analysis variables but also indicated significant positive relationship between the thigh and calf circumference (r = 0.550, p = 0.001). On the other hand, cycling performance was not significantly associated with femur length, tibia length, and full leg length. Conclusion: Conclusively, muscle girth, especially thigh and calf circumference are a more critical predictor of short distance cycling performance.