Study of cyclists’ skin deformation for compression skinsuit design 

Textile Research Journal.
10.1177/00405175231175692
Jiao J.
Shin K.
Chow H.K.
Lau N.

This study aimed to analyze the cyclists’ 3D skin deformation during cycling captured by a motion capture system. Eight healthy male amateur cyclists were invited to participate in this study. The trajectories of sixty-eight reflective markers on the skin were continuously captured during cycling. The mean values and standard deviations of the eight participants’ skin deformation were analyzed against the static posture skin data. The results showed that the anterior torso skin was contracted by 0.3% – 22.3%, while most of the posterior torso skin measurements were expanded by 6.7% – 32.0% during cycling in bending posture when compared with standing posture during cycling. The skin deformation value of the torso was stable after first bending posture during cycling. The thigh skins were deformed from -14.7% to 7.6% during cycling. The results can be used as pattern adjustment rate for compression cycling skinsuit design.