GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
The central nervous system is critical to how we move and function, which means understanding the way it operates is critical to successful bike fitting. IBFI mentee Jon Gatiss-Wild from Bristol, UK, explains
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he central nervous system (CNS) controls every aspect of human function. It controls our thoughts, movements,
emotions, breathing, heart rate and body temperature, while the way we perceive the world and how we interact with it is entirely centred around how our CNS operates. HOW WE MOVE All coordinated human movement starts with the intention to move from the motor cortex. The motor cortex notifies the cerebellum at the base of the brain of its intent to initiate movement. At the same time, the cerebellum is being fed billions of lines of information from proprioceptors all over the body. The cerebellum combines that intention from the motor cortex and the peripheral information it’s receiving to calculate the best possible movement pattern, combining the force required and balance needed. The cerebellum then relays this best option for movement to the motor cortex, which will then send that information down the spinal cord to the muscles to form a coordinated
Photo by isco on Unsplash
movement. PRIORITISING FUNCTIONS In any athletic activity, the CNS has three fundamental priorities: 1. Breathing There are three energy pathways which fuel human movement. The body can only produce
