Characteristics of Muscle Activity in the Lower Extremity during Stepping over Various Obstacle

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study examined the muscle activity while stepping over obstacles with various heights and widths to provide basic data for training and preventing falls. METHODS: Fifteen normal young adults (seven males and eight females) were recruited. The participants walked on a 5m walkway with six obstacles. The heights of obstacles were 0%, 10%, and 40% of the subject's leg length, and the width of the obstacles was 7cm and 14cm. The participants traversed the course twice per obstacle. The muscle activities of the soleus, tibialis anterior (TA), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL) were measured using surface electromyography. A Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to examine the differences between obstacles.

Muscle Activation of Soleus and Tibialis Anterior according to Landing Strategy of Initial Contact during Descending Stairs: Comparison of Forefoot and Whole Foot

“…Weakness of the TA is deeply related to the limitations of walking speed, walking on stairs, and functional activities, and should be continuously managed and evaluated to maintain the movement and balance of the ankle joint [7]. Soleus as an antagonist muscle of the TA performs the plantarflexion together with the gastrocnemius muscles, generates about 93% of the torque of the plantarflexion, and plays a role in squatting or erecting the back [8,9]. It also plays an important role in posture control, and brings a sense of postural stability in walking speed than many types of plantar flexors.…”