TY - GEN
T1 - Perineum pressure distribution among various bicycle saddles
AU - Cruz, Jazmin
AU - Garcia, Mario
AU - Jackson, Elizabeth
AU - Yang, James
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is supported by the NSF (CBET 173093). We would also like to acknowledge Scott Mayer for his advice concerning the test design of this project. His cycling expertise was a tremendous help that allowed us to fill the gap between engineer and cyclist so that we could realistically standardize this testing with the materials available to us.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2020 ASME.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Cycling is a widely popular exercise that is known to provide great health benefits. However, it has been questioned if cycling is responsible for genital numbness or Erectile Dysfunction (ED) due to compression of the perineum between the rider and the bicycle saddle. This study compares the perineal pressure distribution between three saddles (ISM, 3 West, and Fizik) for healthy, active male cyclists and a saddle recommendation is made. Using their own bikes, participants perform six randomized cycling trials (two per saddle) while sitting on a piezo-resistive pressure mat. Participants were asked to qualitatively rate the saddles after each trial. The quantitative results favor the ISM saddle due to its lower perineal pressure values, but the qualitative perceived comfort from the cyclists is split.
AB - Cycling is a widely popular exercise that is known to provide great health benefits. However, it has been questioned if cycling is responsible for genital numbness or Erectile Dysfunction (ED) due to compression of the perineum between the rider and the bicycle saddle. This study compares the perineal pressure distribution between three saddles (ISM, 3 West, and Fizik) for healthy, active male cyclists and a saddle recommendation is made. Using their own bikes, participants perform six randomized cycling trials (two per saddle) while sitting on a piezo-resistive pressure mat. Participants were asked to qualitatively rate the saddles after each trial. The quantitative results favor the ISM saddle due to its lower perineal pressure values, but the qualitative perceived comfort from the cyclists is split.
KW - Bicycle Saddles
KW - Cycling
KW - Erectile Dysfunction
KW - Impotence
KW - Perineum
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096118287&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1115/DETC2020-22688
DO - 10.1115/DETC2020-22688
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85096118287
T3 - Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference
BT - 40th Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (CIE)
PB - American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Y2 - 17 August 2020 through 19 August 2020
ER -