A Study of Muscular Activities and Onset Times of the Tibialis Anterior and Medial Gastrocnemius Muscles of Elderly People in Climbing Stairs

Abstract

Abstract. [Purpose] We examined the characteristics of lower limb muscles of the elderly in climbing stairs as a fall prevention study. [Methods] This study selected 40 elderly people aged 60 or older who could walk independently. The activity of climbing stairs was divided into four stages: standing, knee flexion, touching the stair, and ascending. Muscle activities of the lower limbs were measured by electromyography.[Results] There were significant differences in the activities of four muscles in the four stages of climbing stairs. The right leg showed significant differences in onset times of the four muscles, activities, but the left leg showed no significant differences. [Conclusion] Activity of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscles were different at each stage of climbing stairs. We also found that the tibialis anterior was activated first to prevent dragging of the right leg, and the left leg muscles worked simultaneously to provid stability.

Assessing the Effects of Aging on Muscle Stiffness Using Shear Wave Elastography and Myotonometer

“…Muscle strength peaks in an individual’s 20s or 30s, decreases 1.5% per year in one’s 50s to 60s, and decreases 3% per year thereafter [ 6 , 7 ]. A greater decline occurs in the lower extremities than in the upper extremities, creating a functional decrease in the ankle joint stabilizers such as the tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius, and soleus [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. The TA is an ankle stabilizer and support of the peroneus muscle that maintains balance and locomotion [ 12 ].…”

Muscle stiffness indicating mission crew health in space

“…The present novel insights indicate that a countermeasure exercise programme performed onboard the ISS generally preserves passive stiffness in muscle structures at most sites measured (shoulder, neck, back, thigh), as changes inflight showed only marginal differences from pre- and postflight measurements. Importantly, the Tibialis Anterior muscle (prime dorsiflexor, ankle joint stabilizer 44 , vital in human gait on Earth, showed reduced stiffness inflight in all 12 mission crew members studied in spite of routine inflight countermeasures currently available on the ISS 45 (T2, treadmill-2; ARED, advanced resistive exercise device; CEVIS, bicycle ergometer). This selective lack of preservation of stiffness, suggesting muscle loss/weakness, in an important muscle for gait is a new and unexpected finding, which requires consideration for ISS astronauts and longer-duration missions to Deep Space.…”