Efeitos de diferentes níveis de cadência em ciclismo de estrada: Uma revisão sistemática

Pedro Henrique da Silva Pereira; Giullio César da Silva; Alex Santos Meireles; Ana Beatriz Monteiro; Mario Cezar  de Souza Costa Conceição; Rodrigo Gomes de Souza Vale

doi:10.29035/rcaf.27.1.14

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Pedro Henrique da Silva Pereira

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0850-912X

Giullio César da Silva

Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8701-8550

Alex Santos Meireles

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7898-049X

Ana Beatriz Monteiro

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3590-6875

Mario Cezar de Souza Costa Conceição

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4545-0892

Rodrigo Gomes de Souza Vale

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3049-8773

Abstract

Road cycling is a sport with increasing prominence on the global stage, characterized by long-duration events and high aerobic demands. This study sought to investigate the effects of different cadence levels and their respective influences on performance and efficiency in trained road cyclists. A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA protocol, registered on the PROSPERO platform under number CRD42024603355. Eligibility criteria were based on the PICOS methodology, analyzing randomized clinical trials. The search included the PubMed, Scopus, SportDiscus, and ScienceDirect databases, resulting in 927 initially identified studies. After excluding duplicates and articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, five studies were included. To analyze the methodological quality, the TESTEX tool was used and for the risk of bias, the Risk of Bias 2.0 tool was used. The results indicated that lower cadences are often associated with greater efficiency in time trials and improved muscular strength, while higher cadences appear to promote better cerebral functional responses and neural efficiency. The analyzed interventions presented limitations regarding duration, diverging from the competitive reality of road cycling. Thus, it is concluded that low-cadence training appears to be an effective strategy for shorter efforts, while higher cadences suggest potential neurological benefits.

Item information

Published: June 11, 2026

Issue: Vol. 27 No. 1 (2026): Revista Ciencias de la Actividad Física UCM

Section: Theoretical Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29035/rcaf.27.1.14

Keywords: Bicycling, Cadence, Athletic performance, Muscle strength, Sports

How to Cite

da Silva Pereira , P. H., da Silva, G. C., Santos Meireles, A., Monteiro, A. B., de Souza Costa Conceição, M. C. ., & Vale, R. G. de S. (2026). Effects of different cadence levels in road cycling: A systematic review. Revista Ciencias De La Actividad Física UCM, 27(1), 207-223. https://doi.org/10.29035/rcaf.27.1.14

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