The long sitting screening test in elite cyclists

Pelvic rotation during cycling is important because it influences aerodynamics, cycling efficiency and the occurrence of overuse injuries. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not pelvic position in long sitting influences pelvic position during cycling. An observational, cross sectional, within-subjects study design was used. Thirty elite international track and road cyclists participated as subjects and two measures were undertaken. In long sitting, a digital inclinometer was positioned on the lumbosacral junction to give a static measure in degrees of sacral inclination (SI) relative to the horizontal. During active cycling, video analysis of reflective surface markers over the anterior superior iliac spine and posterior superior iliac spine was used to give a measure in degrees of anterior pelvic rotation (APR), by the angle between these two landmarks and the horizontal. No significant linear relationship was found between the two testing positions (r= 0.23, p= 0.22).