Affiliations: [a] Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan | [b] College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan | [c] Department of Robotic and Intelligent Machines Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Reem Javed Malik, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SMME), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Sector H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Inclined walking is associated with multiple musculoskeletal benefits and is considered a therapeutic exercise. Various patterns of increased and decreased muscle activation with inclined surfaces have been observed in normal muscles, with more focus on the proximal lower limb musculature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the differences in electromyographic activation of gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior at various inclined surfaces during gait. METHODS: Fourteen healthy male participants aged between 17–30 years walked at a self-selected speed at motor driven treadmill on 0, 2 and 4 degrees of inclination. EMG activity of the muscles was recorded using the Delsys Trigno surface EMG system. RESULTS: Results showed that muscular activation of tibialis anterior significantly decreased with increase in the level of inclination (p< 0.05). However, soleus, gastrocnemius medialis and gastrocnemius lateralis showed no significant differences (p> 0.05) in their muscular activation, and no noticeable trends were found. Furthermore, no significant difference was found between all the muscles at ground level and inclined level 2 and 4. CONCLUSION: These differences in activation patterns found in distal extremity can be useful for designing rehabilitation protocols in sports training and for patients with neurological and musculoskeletal pathologies.
