TY - JOUR
T1 - A field study investigating sensory manifestations in recreational female cyclists using a novel female-specific cycling pad
AU - Larsen, Anna Sofie T
AU - Norheim, Kristoffer L
AU - Marandi, Ramtin Z
AU - Hansen, Ernst A
AU - Madeleine, Pascal
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - This randomised controlled field study aimed to design a female-specific cycling pad with reduced padding in the crotch area (half-pad) and test its effects on self-reported sensory manifestations in comparison with full-padded cycling bib shorts. Recreational female road cyclists (
n = 183) participated (divided into two groups). Self-reported sensory manifestations were collected six times over 12 weeks. Sitting discomfort, wetness perception, thermal, texture sensation, and wear discomfort decreased over time for the crotch and sitting-bones areas in both groups. Irritation and tenderness in the crotch area also decreased over time in both groups. Irritation and tenderness in the sitting-bones area were only higher at week two in the half-pad compared with the full-pad group. Cycling with the half-padded shorts compared with the full-padded ones had no negative effects on sensory manifestations beside the observed transient change at week two. This suggests that foam thickness in the crotch area can be reduced in female-specific cycling pads.
Practitioner's Summary: Road cycling might result in discomfort and non-traumatic injuries in the female genital area. This field study compares two different cycling pads; a half-pad and a full-pad, over a 12-week period among female recreational road cyclists. Reducing the foam thickness in the crotch area of the pad does not change sensory manifestations, i.e. discomfort, wetness perception, texture-, and thermal-sensation as well as wear discomfort.
Abbreviations: CS-Q: online Cycling bib Shorts Questionnaire; VADER: Valence Aware Dictionary and sEntiment Reasoner.
AB - This randomised controlled field study aimed to design a female-specific cycling pad with reduced padding in the crotch area (half-pad) and test its effects on self-reported sensory manifestations in comparison with full-padded cycling bib shorts. Recreational female road cyclists (
n = 183) participated (divided into two groups). Self-reported sensory manifestations were collected six times over 12 weeks. Sitting discomfort, wetness perception, thermal, texture sensation, and wear discomfort decreased over time for the crotch and sitting-bones areas in both groups. Irritation and tenderness in the crotch area also decreased over time in both groups. Irritation and tenderness in the sitting-bones area were only higher at week two in the half-pad compared with the full-pad group. Cycling with the half-padded shorts compared with the full-padded ones had no negative effects on sensory manifestations beside the observed transient change at week two. This suggests that foam thickness in the crotch area can be reduced in female-specific cycling pads.
Practitioner's Summary: Road cycling might result in discomfort and non-traumatic injuries in the female genital area. This field study compares two different cycling pads; a half-pad and a full-pad, over a 12-week period among female recreational road cyclists. Reducing the foam thickness in the crotch area of the pad does not change sensory manifestations, i.e. discomfort, wetness perception, texture-, and thermal-sensation as well as wear discomfort.
Abbreviations: CS-Q: online Cycling bib Shorts Questionnaire; VADER: Valence Aware Dictionary and sEntiment Reasoner.
KW - Bib shorts
KW - crotch
KW - discomfort
KW - ergonomics intervention
KW - road cycling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097430866&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00140139.2020.1853819
DO - 10.1080/00140139.2020.1853819
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33210555
SN - 0014-0139
VL - 64
SP - 571
EP - 581
JO - Ergonomics
JF - Ergonomics
IS - 5
ER -