Effects of In-Shoe Midsole Cushioning on Leg Muscle Balance and Co-Contraction with Increased Heel Height During Walking

2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 449-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kit-lun Yick ◽  
Ka-lai Yeung ◽  
Del P. Wong ◽  
Yee-nee Lam ◽  
Sun-pui Ng
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Heel Strike ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽  
Heel Height ◽  
Muscle Balance ◽  
Leg Muscle ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles ◽  
Shoe Wear

Background: The midsole is an essential assembly of footwear for retaining the shape of the shoe, delivering support to the foot, and serving as a cushioning and stability device for walking. To improve leg muscle balance and muscle co-contraction, we propose a new midsole design for high heels with different hardness levels at the forefoot region. Methods: Five healthy women participated in the study, with a mean ± SD age of 21.80 ± 4.09 years, and duration of high-heeled shoe wear of 5.20 ± 4.09 years. Two midsole conditions, control and multiple-hardness midsole (MHM), with heel heights of 2 (flat), 5, and 8 cm were used. The main outcome measures were to examine the acute effects of MHM by electromyography on muscle activity balance and co-contraction at varying heel heights during shuttle walk. Results: Use of the MHM significantly reduced the muscle activity ratio between the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles (P = .043) during push-off to heel strike with a heel height of 5 cm (−22.74%) and heel strike to midstance with a heel height of 8 cm (−22.26%). The increased co-contraction indices of the tibialis anterior–peroneus longus muscles (14.35% with an 8-cm heel height) and tibialis anterior–soleus muscles (15.18% with a 5-cm heel height) are significant (P = .043), with a large effect size (d = 0.8). Conclusions: These results deliver important implications in advancing the engineering of MHM design without changing the in-shoe volume to enhance leg muscle balance and co-contraction during walking.

INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON GASTROCNEMIUS MUSCLE ACTIVITY DURING THE STANCE PHASE OF GAIT

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (02) ◽  
pp. 1250011
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Abelew ◽  
Brian J. Cuda ◽  
Jonathan E. Koontz ◽  
Julia C. Stell ◽  
Marie A. Johanson
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscle ◽  
Heel Strike ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Ankle Kinematics ◽  
Stance Time ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles

Purpose: Differences in muscle activity have been observed between men and women in numerous lower extremity muscles in a variety of activities. These differences may be related to observed differences in the incidence of injuries between men and women. The purpose of this work is to determine if gender had an effect on the activity of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during the early part of the stance phase of gait. Method: An observational cohort study was set up using sixteen volunteers (9 men and 7 women, mean age = 27 years) with less than 5° of passive ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion. Maximum dorsiflexion, maximum knee flexion, stance time and EMG magnitude were measured for both men and women during early stance (heel strike to heel off). Results: EMG amplitude of the LG muscle in women was significantly higher than that of men. No significant differences were observed between men and women for maximum dorsiflexion, maximum knee flexion or stance time. Conclusions: A gender difference in gastrocnemius muscle EMG magnitude exists that is independent of knee and ankle kinematics and walking speed.

What Is the Influence of Cambered Running Surface on Lower Extremity Muscle Activity?

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Unfried ◽  
Arnel Aguinaldo ◽  
Daniel Cipriani
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Gluteus Medius ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Road Surface ◽  
Vastus Medialis ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽  
Lower Extremity Muscle ◽  
Fitness Sport

Running on a road for fitness, sport, or recreation poses unique challenges to the runner, one of which is the camber of the surface. Few studies have examined the effects of camber on running, namely, kinematic studies of the knee and ankle. There is currently no information available regarding muscle response to running on a cambered road surface. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a cambered road on lower extremity muscle activity, as measured by electromyography in recreational runners. In addition, this study examined a true outdoor road surface, as opposed to a treadmill surface. The mean muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, vastus medialis oblique, biceps femoris, and gluteus medius were studied. Fifteen runners completed multiple running trials on cambered and level surfaces. During the stance phase, mean activities of tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, and vastus medialis oblique were greater on the gutter side than the crown side. There were no differences in mean muscle activity during the swing phase. The findings of this study suggest that running on a road camber alters the activity of select lower extremity muscles possibly in response to lower extremity compensations to the cambered condition.

scholarly journals Acute effects of static stretching on the shear elastic moduli of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles in young and elderly women

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 98-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Nakamura ◽  
Tome Ikezoe ◽  
Satoru Nishishita ◽  
Jun Umehara ◽  
Misaka Kimura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elastic Moduli ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles

EMG Comparison of Selected Ankle Rehabilitation Exercises

1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell L. Cordova ◽  
Lisa S. Jutte ◽  
J. Ty Hopkins
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Neuromuscular Function ◽  
Ankle Injuries ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Peroneus Longus ◽  
Ankle Rehabilitation ◽  
Leg Muscle ◽  
Rehabilitation Exercises

Many types of rehabilitation exercises are used to reestablish lower extremity neuromuscular function and strength following ankle injuries. It has not been established which exercise induces the greatest leg muscle activity, which might allow patients to recover more quickly from their injuries. The purpose of this investigation was to establish which exercises induce the most muscle activity in the medial gastrocnemius (MG), peroneus longus (PL), and tibialis anterior (TA), as measured by integrated electromyography (I-EMG). Participants (N= 24, age = 22 ± .59, mass = 63.5 ± 2.1 kg, ht = 165.7 ± 1.2 cm) conducted five repetitions of each of four exercise conditions for 30 s: one-legged stance (OLS), OLS on trampoline (OLST), T-Band kicks (TBK), and OLS perturbations (OLSP). It was found that the TBK exercise induces greater I-EMG in all three muscles, the OLST exercise stimulates more I-EMG activity in the MG and TA, and the OLSP exercise induces greater I-EMG activity in the TA.

Effect of Stretching on Ankle and Knee Angles and Gastrocnemius Activity during the Stance Phase of Gait

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie A. Johanson ◽  
Brian J. Cuda ◽  
Jonathan E. Koontz ◽  
Julia C. Stell ◽  
Thomas A. Abelew
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscle ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Ankle Dorsiflexion ◽  
Heel Strike ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles ◽  
Experimental Group

Context:Stretching exercises are commonly prescribed for patients and healthy individuals with limited extensibility of the gastrocnemius muscle.Objective:To determine effects of gastrocnemius stretching on ankle dorsiflexion, knee extension, and gastrocnemius muscle activity during gait.Design:Randomized-control trial.Setting:Biomechanical laboratory.Participants:Sixteen volunteers (9 men and 7 women, mean age = 27 y) with less than 5° of passive ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion randomly assigned to an experimental or control group.Intervention:The experimental group performed gastrocnemius stretching for 3 wk.Main Outcome Measures:Maximum ankle dorsiflexion, maximum knee extension, and EMG amplitude of the gastrocnemius muscles were measured between heel strike and heel-off before and after intervention.Results:No significant effect of group or time was found on maximum ankle dorsiflexion, maximum knee extension, or EMG activity of the medial or lateral gastrocnemius muscles between heel strike and heel-off. The experimental group had significantly greater passive ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion bilaterally at posttest than the control group.Conclusions:Stretching did not alter joint angles or gastrocnemius muscle activity in the early to midstance phase of gait.

The influence of heel height on lower extremity kinematics and leg muscle activity during gait in young and middle-aged women

2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 677-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Mika ◽  
Łukasz Oleksy ◽  
Piotr Mika ◽  
Anna Marchewka ◽  
Brian C. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Heel Height ◽  
Leg Muscle

scholarly journals Rightward shift of optimal fascicle length with decreasing voluntary activity level in the soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles

2020 ◽  
pp. jeb.235614
Author(s):  
Anthony L. Hessel ◽  
Brent J. Raiteri ◽  
Michael J. Marsh ◽  
Daniel Hahn
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽  
Ankle Angle ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles

Much of our understanding of in vivo skeletal muscle properties is based on studies performed under maximal activation, which is problematic because muscles are rarely activated maximally during movements such as walking. Currently, force-length properties of the human triceps surae at submaximal voluntary muscle activity levels are not characterized. We therefore evaluated plantar flexor torque/force-ankle angle and torque/force-fascicle length properties of the soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during voluntary contractions at three activity levels: 100, 30, and 22% of maximal voluntary contraction. Soleus activity levels were controlled by participants via real-time electromyography feedback and contractions were performed at ankle angles ranging from 10° plantar flexion to 35° dorsiflexion. Using dynamometry and ultrasound imaging, torque-fascicle length curves of the soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles were constructed. The results indicate that small muscle activity reductions shift the torque/force-angle and torque/force-fascicle length curves of these muscles to more dorsiflexed ankle angles and longer fascicle lengths (from 3 to 20% optimal fascicle length, depending on ankle angle). The shift in the torque- and force-fascicle length curves during submaximal voluntary contraction have potential implications for human locomotion (e.g. walking) as the operating range of fascicles shifts to the ascending limb, where muscle force capacity is reduced by at least 15%. These data demonstrate the need to match activity levels during construction of the torque- and force-fascicle length curves to activity levels achieved during movement to better characterize the lengths that muscles operate at relative to their optimum during a specific task.

scholarly journals Changes in muscle coactivation during running: a comparison between two techniques, forefoot vs rearfoot

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 332-336
Author(s):  
Daniel Araya ◽  
Juan López ◽  
Germán Villalobos ◽  
Rodrigo Guzmán-Venegas ◽  
Oscar Valencia
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Surface Electromyography ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Joint Stability ◽  
Paired Data ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius

Introduction: Surface electromyography has been a technique used to describe muscle activity during running. However, there is little literature that analyses the behaviour of muscle coactivation in runners, describing the effect between two techniques associated with the initial contact, such as the use of rearfoot (RF) and forefoot (FF). Material and method: The purpose of this study was to compare muscle coactivation levels developed in the lower limb during two running techniques, FF vs RF. Fourteen amateur runners were evaluated (eight men, six women; age= 23.21 ± 3.58 years, mass= 63.89 ± 8.13 kg, height= 1.68 ± 0.08m). Surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activity during both running techniques evaluated on a treadmill, considering the muscle pairs: Rectus femoris- Biceps femoris (RFe-BF), Lateral Gastrocnemius–Tibialis Anterior (LG-TA), and Medial Gastrocnemius - Tibialis Anterior (MG-TA). These were calculated in three windows considering ten running cycles (0-5%, 80-100%, and 0-100%). To compare FF vs RF t-student test for paired data was used. Results: It was observed significant differences in the MG-TA pair (FF= 18.42 ± 11.84% vs RF = 39.05 ± 13.28%, p = 0.0018 during 0-5%, and RFe-BF pair (FF = 42.38 ± 18.11% vs RF = 28.37 ± 17.2%, p = 0.0331) during 80-100% of the race. Conclusion: Our findings show that the behaviour of muscle coactivation is different between FF vs RF techniques if we analyze little windows in the running cycle. This could be associated with an increase in the joint stability between these short intervals, represented in the initial and final regions of the running cycle.

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