Amateur endurance cycling practice and adult’s physical and psychosocial health: a cross-sectional study of the influence of training volume

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to analyse the association between amateur cycling training volume and physical and psychosocial health. A cross-sectional study was developed, via self-reported survey, among 1669 cyclists and 1039 controls, where analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple linear regression test were developed. Independent of gender, high volumes of amateur endurance cycling practice benefited cyclists’ body mass index and male cyclists’ physical conditioning, while psychosocial health did not differ among the training volume groups. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis highlighted the contribution of training volume to lower cyclists’ body mass index and better male cyclists’ physical conditioning. All cyclist groups presented better physical and psychosocial health than controls. High volumes of amateur endurance cycling training were associated with better physical health without jeopardizing psychosocial health. The practice of amateur endurance cycling, both in low and high volumes, was associated with better physical and psychosocial health compared with inactivity.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise
• endurance training
• health
• physical activity
• physical performance

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge all the subjects who participated in this study. The authors also gratefully acknowledge all the clubs involved in the dissemination of the invitations among their cyclist.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by Gobierno de Aragón (reference number S25-D17) and by FEDER Aragón 2014-2020 “Construyendo Europa desde Aragón”. M.A.O. is supported by the Departamento de Innovación, Investigación y Universidad del Gobierno de Aragón y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional – Programa Operativo FEDER Aragón 2014-2020 “Construyendo Europa desde Aragón” (reference number PUI/2018-336). J.R. is supported by Universidad de Lleida, Cátedra ASISA (reference number: X18010). D.M. is supported by the Biomedical Research Networking Center on Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES) and FEDER funds from the European Union (reference number CB16/10/00477). J.B. is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education (grant number FPU13/05130) and by the Departamento de Innovación, Investigación y Universidad del Gobierno de Aragón y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional – Programa Operativo FEDER Aragón 2014-2020 “Construyendo Europa desde Aragón” (reference number PUI/2018-337). The funders had no role in study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication. There was no external financial support.