LAUSR

Introduction: Humans prefer to maximise the economy of walking and running. At a constant velocity, humans will quickly select a combination of stride length and rate that minimises energetic cost. Deviations from the preferred movement pattern result in energetic penalties. However the neural and muscular mechanisms that influence this relationship remain minimally understood. Interestingly, cyclists pedaling at a constant power output freely select a higher cadence than that which minimises energetic cost, suggesting economy is not the only factor influencing movement preference. Studying muscle mechanics during the more constrained movement of cycling may provide insight into what factors dictate human movement preferences. Understanding muscle function at optimal cycling frequencies may also help to maximise cycling performance.