Muscle Activation and Distribution during Four Test/Functional Tasks: A Comparison between Dry-Land and Aquatic Environments for Healthy Older and Young Adults

Abstract

<jats:p>Background: The use of rehabilitation protocols carried out in water has been progressively increasing due to the favorable physical properties of the water. Electromyography allows one to register muscle activity even under water. Aim: To compare muscle activity between two groups (healthy young adults (HYA) and healthy older adults (HOA)) in two different environments (dry land and aquatic) using surface electromyography during the execution of four different test/functional movements. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study. HYA and HOA carried out four functional tasks (Step Up and Down, Sit TO Stand test, Gait Initiation and Turns During Gait) in two different environments (dry land and aquatic). Absolute and relative muscle activation was compared between each group and between each environment. In addition, the stability of the measured was calculated through a test-retest (ICC 2:1). Results: Within the same environment there were significant differences between young and older adults in three of the four functional tasks. In contrast, in the gait initiation, hardly any significant differences were found between the two groups analysed, except for the soleus and the anterior tibial. Measurement stability ranged from good to excellent. Conclusions: Level of the musculature involvement presents an entirely different distribution when the test/functional task is performed on dry land or in water. There are differences both in the relative activation of the musculature and in the distribution of the partition of the muscles comparing older and young adults within the same environment.</jats:p>

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“…Physiotherapists, therefore, use the information provided by the software used in EMG sensors to interpret a patient's physical well-being using accurate variables. According to Cuesta-Vargas et al, (2020) [4] , the relationship between physical activity on land and underwater is extremely important in hydrotherapy. While it is complex to notice slight movement using the physical eye, the EMG sensors have been notably useful in providing a media for noticing even small changes that could be noticed through changes in the heart rate or slight muscle movements.…”

“…The role played by EMG sensors to measure muscle activity is extremely important for the physiotherapist to monitor and evaluate the clinical process and the effectiveness of hydro-rehabilitation as a treatment method. Most of the articles also show that the EMG wearable sensors are designed to be applied remotely and provide technical abilities for monitoring and controlling any rehabilitation exercises that are aimed to improve motor abilities (Cuesta-Vargas et al, 2020) [4] . This technology has therefore been determined to be a functional integration in hydrotherapy as a treatment method in the healthcare sector.…”

“…The most frequent method of standardizing EMG data for inter-individual comparability is Maximal Voluntary Contraction [MVC]. While there is a defined procedure for dry training, it is uncertain if the EMG data collected from the dry workouts should be corrected for water (Cuesta-Vargas et al, 2020) [4] . Three studies looked at MVC on land and water and discovered that the setting did not influence the value as long as the muscle activity was controlled similarly.…”

“…It's unknown why EMG is lesser in water at this moment, although variations in muscle movement may be linked to response and fluid variations brought on by submerging. The authors concluded that the environment had no significant effect on sEMG and force in research that monitored sEMG responses with isometric strains on the ground and in water (Cuesta-Vargas et al, 2020) [4] . The results of this investigation could be valuable in illustrating the functional mobility activity in the water, which could assist clinicians in making better decisions in aquatic therapy procedures.…”

“…Still, greater trunk action is needed to manage the motion. Waterproofing EMG wires is a severe concern of recording muscle function in water (Cuesta-Vargas et al, 2020) [4] . The following are the two primary techniques for measuring muscle activity utilizing surface EMG in water motility: creating a waterproof cover around the wires and creating a watertight structure across the body by individuals donning a dry suit.…”