Comparison of Muscle Activity and Ultrasound Response of Lower Extremity Muscles During Treadmill and Track Running

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in lower extremity muscle morphology and electromyography (EMG) signals during treadmill running (TR) and plastic track running (PR). Methods: A total of 10 healthy male runners aged 22.5±1.3 years, height: 175.5±4.5 cm; weight: 71.9±2.7 kg; BMI: 22.1±1.1 volunteered to participate in this study. Muscle morphology data were collected by a portable ultrasound scanner before and after running. Median frequency (MF), mean power frequency (MPF) and root mean square (RMS) were monitored during TR and PR. Results: The results indicated that muscle thickness and pennation angle have increased after running. The muscle thickness after PR showed significantly higher than TR in tested muscle except tibialis anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (MG). In contrast, only the pennation angle of TA and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) after PR was significantly different from that after TR (P <0.001, P = 0.002). The most significant difference in the change rate of muscle thickness was found at TA. In addition, TA and MG showed significantly higher change rate of the pennation angle after TR than that after PR. Both of MF and MPF showed a downward trend after TR and PR. It could discover that the MF and MPF of LG during TR showed a significantly lower than that during PR both in two phases (P =0.001, P <0.001). However, in the last 5 minutes, MF and MPF of MQ during PR were smaller than that during PR (P = 0.001, P = 0.015). Furthermore, MF of RF during TR showed significantly different from that during PR (P = 0.017). From the point of RMS, in the first five minutes, the RMS of medical quadriceps (MQ), lateral quadriceps (LQ), hamstring muscles (HM) and MG during TR was significantly higher than that of PR (P <0.05). In addition, the RMS of all tested muscles after TR was significantly higher than after PR during the last 5 minutes (P <0.05). Conclusions: The current study indicated that TR and PR would cause different effects to lower extremity muscle morphology. In addition, the EMG signals based on running surfaces are also unconformity. Compared with the plastic track, the treadmill will bring more stimulation to the lower extremity muscles. The preliminary findings provide further insights into the rationality of runners’ choice of the running surface.

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Lower Extremity Muscle Morphology and Plantar Loading During Squatting with Different Heel Heights

Journal of Medical Imaging and Health Informatics ◽

10.1166/jmihi.2020.2999 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 1210-1215

Author(s):

Tanyan Xie ◽

Yan Zhang ◽

Jan Awrejcewicz ◽

Yaodong Gu

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Plantar Pressure ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

The Body ◽

Muscle Morphology ◽

Lower Limb Muscles ◽

Heel Height ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Limb Muscles

Objective: Although it is widely reported that high-heeled changes gait pattern in terms of motions and forces throughout the body, the biomechanics while high-heeled squatting has not been examined. This study aimed to explore the acute effects of different heel heights on muscle morphology and plantar loading during high-heeled squatting. Methods: Fourteen healthy females performed squats on high-heeled shoes with different heights: flat (0.8 cm), moderate (4.0 cm), and high (7.0 cm). Muscle thickness and pennation angle of selected lower limb muscles were measured by ultrasound imaging. Plantar pressure distribution and COP trajectory during an entire squatting motion were recorded. Results: As the heel height increased, the average and peak pressure consistently increased in the heel and hallux regions, while reversely changed in MF and LF regions. In addition, the selected lower limb muscles except for the lateral gastrocnemius and vastus medialis showed significant differences in muscle thickness and pennation angle between heel heights. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that increased heel height would enhance the immediate effects on muscle morphology as well as plantar pressure redistribution potentially causing lower limb muscle fatigue and injuries.

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Correlation between age, muscle architecture, and muscle strength in children with Erb’s palsy

Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy ◽

10.1186/s43161-021-00029-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ahmed Saad Awad ◽

Mostafa Soliman Ali ◽

Mohamed Ismail Elassal

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Muscle Weakness ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Study Groups ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Active Movement ◽

Significant Relation ◽

Erb’S Palsy ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background Muscle weakness is a widespread problem in children with Erb’s palsy as it can cause changes in muscle architecture parameters, which can be detected by ultrasonography. This study was conducted to determine the relation between age, muscle architecture, and muscle strength in children with Erb’s palsy. A total of 40 children with Erb’s palsy from both sexes aged 1–2.5 years were included in this study. Muscle thickness and pennation angle were measured by ultrasonography, and muscle strength was measured using the active movement scale. Results A significant relation was found between age, muscle thickness, pennation angle, and muscle strength (P < 0.05). Moreover, a significant difference was found in muscle architecture parameters during relaxation and contraction in both study groups and in each study group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Muscle weakness in children with Erb’s palsy has an effect on muscle architecture parameters, and these parameters also increase with age.

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Lower-Extremity Muscle Activity During Aquatic and Land Treadmill Running at the Same Speeds

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2013-0003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 107-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

W. Matthew Silvers ◽

Eadric Bressel ◽

D. Clark Dickin ◽

Garry Killgore ◽

Dennis G. Dolny

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Swing Phase ◽

Treadmill Running ◽

Vastus Medialis ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle

Context:Muscle activation during aquatic treadmill (ATM) running has not been examined, despite similar investigations for other modes of aquatic locomotion and increased interest in ATM running.Objectives:The objectives of this study were to compare normalized (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction; %MVC), absolute duration (aDUR), and total (tACT) lower-extremity muscle activity during land treadmill (TM) and ATM running at the same speeds.Design:Exploratory, quasi-experimental, crossover design.Setting:Athletic training facility.Participants:12 healthy recreational runners (age = 25.8 ± 5 y, height = 178.4 ± 8.2 cm, mass = 71.5 ± 11.5 kg, running experience = 8.2 ± 5.3 y) volunteered for participation.Intervention:All participants performed TM and ATM running at 174.4, 201.2, and 228.0 m/min while surface electromyographic data were collected from the vastus medialis, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and biceps femoris.Main Outcome Measures:For each muscle, a 2 × 3 repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the main effects and environment–speed interaction (P ≤ .05) of each dependent variable: %MVC, aDUR, and tACT.Results:Compared with TM, ATM elicited significantly reduced %MVC (−44.0%) but increased aDUR (+213.1%) and tACT (+41.9%) in the vastus medialis, increased %MVC (+48.7%) and aDUR (+128.1%) in the rectus femoris during swing phase, reduced %MVC (−26.9%) and tACT (−40.1%) in the gastrocnemius, increased aDUR (+33.1%) and tACT (+35.7%) in the tibialis anterior, and increased aDUR (+41.3%) and tACT (+29.2%) in the biceps femoris. At faster running speeds, there were significant increases in tibialis anterior %MVC (+8.6−15.2%) and tACT (+12.7−17.0%) and rectus femoris %MVC (12.1−26.6%; swing phase).Conclusion:No significant environment–speed interaction effects suggested that observed muscle-activity differences between ATM and TM were due to environmental variation, ie, buoyancy (presumed to decrease %MVC) and drag forces (presumed to increase aDUR and tACT) in the water.

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Role of Occupational Footwear and Prolonged Walking on Lower Extremity Muscle Activation during Maximal Exertions and Postural Stability Tasks

Biomechanics ◽

10.3390/biomechanics1020017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 202-213

Author(s):

Harish Chander ◽

Sachini N. K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige ◽

Alana J. Turner ◽

Reuben F. Burch V ◽

Adam C. Knight ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Prolonged Duration ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact

Background: Occupational footwear and a prolonged duration of walking have been previously reported to play a role in maintaining postural stability. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the impact of three types of occupational footwear: the steel-toed work boot (ST), the tactical work boot (TB), and the low-top work shoe (LT) on previously unreported lower extremity muscle activity during postural stability tasks. Methods: Electromyography (EMG) muscle activity was measured from four lower extremity muscles (vastus medialis (VM), medial hamstrings (MH), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) during maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) and during a sensory organization test (SOT) every 30 min over a 4 h simulated workload while wearing ST, TB, and LT footwear. The mean MVIC and the mean and percentage MVIC during each SOT condition from each muscle was analyzed individually using a repeated measures ANOVA at an alpha level of 0.05. Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found for maximal exertions, but this was limited to only the time main effect. No significant differences existed for EMG measures during the SOT. Conclusion: The findings suggest that occupational footwear type does not influence lower extremity muscle activity during both MVIC and SOT. Significantly lower muscle activity during maximal exertions over the course of the 4 h workload was evident, which can be attributed to localized muscular fatigue, but this was not sufficient to impact muscle activity during postural stability tasks.

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Influence of Bicycle Seat Tube Angle and Hand Position on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Neuromuscular Control: Implications for Triathlon Running Performance

Journal of Applied Biomechanics ◽

10.1123/jab.27.4.297 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 297-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Amy Silder ◽

Kyle Gleason ◽

Darryl G. Thelen

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Neuromuscular Control ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Body Motion ◽

Treadmill Running ◽

Whole Body ◽

Knee Extensors ◽

Hand Position ◽

Plantar Flexors ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle

We investigated how varying seat tube angle (STA) and hand position affect muscle kinematics and activation patterns during cycling in order to better understand how triathlon-specific bike geometries might mitigate the biomechanical challenges associated with the bike-to-run transition. Whole body motion and lower extremity muscle activities were recorded from 14 triathletes during a series of cycling and treadmill running trials. A total of nine cycling trials were conducted in three hand positions (aero, drops, hoods) and at three STAs (73°, 76°, 79°). Participants also ran on a treadmill at 80, 90, and 100% of their 10-km triathlon race pace. Compared with cycling, running necessitated significantly longer peak musculotendon lengths from the uniarticular hip flexors, knee extensors, ankle plantar flexors and the biarticular hamstrings, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius muscles. Running also involved significantly longer periods of active muscle lengthening from the quadriceps and ankle plantar flexors. During cycling, increasing the STA alone had no affect on muscle kinematics but did induce significantly greater rectus femoris activity during the upstroke of the crank cycle. Increasing hip extension by varying the hand position induced an increase in hamstring muscle activity, and moved the operating lengths of the uniarticular hip flexor and extensor muscles slightly closer to those seen during running. These combined changes in muscle kinematics and coordination could potentially contribute to the improved running performances that have been previously observed immediately after cycling on a triathlon-specific bicycle.

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Difference in vertical jumping abilities, endurance and quickness of regeneration lower extremity muscle groups after physical effort between CrossFit and climbing athletes

Polish Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1515/pjph-2017-0036 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 127 (4) ◽

pp. 168-172

Author(s):

Piotr Gawda ◽

Michał Ginszt ◽

Jakub Smołka ◽

Michał Paćko ◽

Maria Skublewska-Paszkowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Vertical Jump ◽

Gluteus Maximus ◽

Myoelectric Activity ◽

High Intensity Training ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Sport Climbing ◽

Jump Test ◽

Vertical Jumping ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Introduction. Productive sporting performance in various sports disciplines often heavily depends on jumping abilities as well as on lower limb muscles power and endurance of the athletes involved. Both CrossFit, a popular high-intensity training program and sport climbing require lower extremity muscular power and endurance. Aim. The aim of this study was to compare vertical jumping abilities, endurance and quickness of the regeneration in gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), vastus medialis (VMO) and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles in CrossFit athletes and sport climbers. Material and methods. The study comprised 20 male athletes aged 24.3±4.7, divided into two equal groups: training CrossFit (CF) and sport climbers (SC). Vertical jump test was recorded by Vicon® motion capture system and AMTI® biomechanics force platforms. The myoelectric activity of the GL, VMO and GM muscles was recorded by myon®. Results. Significant difference in height of vertical jump in CrossFit athletes and sport climbers was observed (SC: 125.43 cm, 120.92 cm; CF: 110.42 cm, 110.86 cm; p<0.05). The endurance of the GL muscles in athletes using CrossFit training is significantly higher in comparison to sport climbers. Athletes training CrossFit have a better ability to recover GL, GM and VMO muscles than sport climbers. Conclusions. Sport climbers have better results in vertical jump tests than the athletes doing CrossFit. The endurance of the GL muscles in athletes doing CrossFit is higher in comparison to sport climbers. Athletes doing CrossFit have also better ability to muscles recover than sport climbers.

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Lower Extremity Muscle Activity During a Women's Overhand Lacrosse Shot

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2014-0028 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 15-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Brianna M. Millard ◽

John A. Mercer

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Body Height ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Discrete Events ◽

Warm Up ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

One Year

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to describe lower extremity muscle activity during the lacrosse shot. Participants (n=5 females, age 22±2 years, body height 162.6±15.2 cm, body mass 63.7±23.6 kg) were free from injury and had at least one year of lacrosse experience. The lead leg was instrumented with electromyography (EMG) leads to measure muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (GA). Participants completed five trials of a warm-up speed shot (Slow) and a game speed shot (Fast). Video analysis was used to identify the discrete events defining specific movement phases. Full-wave rectified data were averaged per muscle per phase (Crank Back Minor, Crank Back Major, Stick Acceleration, Stick Deceleration). Average EMG per muscle was analyzed using a 4 (Phase) x 2 (Speed) ANOVA. BF was greater during Fast vs. Slow for all phases (p<0.05), while TA was not influenced by either Phase or Speed (p>0.05). RF and GA were each influenced by the interaction of Phase and Speed (p<0.05) with GA being greater during Fast vs. Slow shots during all phases and RF greater during Crank Back Minor and Major as well as Stick Deceleration (p<0.05) but only tended to be greater during Stick Acceleration (p=0.076) for Fast vs. Slow. The greater muscle activity (BF, RF, GA) during Fast vs. Slow shots may have been related to a faster approach speed and/or need to create a stiff lower extremity to allow for faster upper extremity movements.

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An evaluation of the lower extremity muscle strength of patients with chronic venous insufficiency

Phlebology The Journal of Venous Disease ◽

10.1177/0268355515577323 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 203-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Cem Cetin ◽

Mustafa O Serbest ◽

Sabriye Ercan ◽

Turhan Yavuz ◽

Ali Erdogan

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Visual Analog Scale ◽

Chronic Venous Insufficiency ◽

Venous Insufficiency ◽

Plantar Flexion ◽

Lower Extremities ◽

Analog Scale ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Significant Difference

Objective In this study, the aim was to evaluate the lower extremity muscle strength in patients with chronic venous insufficiency using an isokinetic dynamometer. Methods The study comprised a group of 36 lower extremities of 23 patients diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency and a control group of 40 lower extremities of 20 patients who did not have chronic venous insufficiency. In the diagnosis and evaluation of chronic venous insufficiency, photoplethysmography was used to evaluate the venous return circulation time. Visual Analog Scale scoring was applied to define the level of pain of the patients. Muscle strength measurements were made in all the lower extremities by using an isokinetic dynamometer. Results A statistically significant difference was detected between the groups in terms of the muscle strength parameters in the ankle plantar flexion, and knee flexor and extensor muscles. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the ankle dorsiflexion muscle strength parameters. A significant difference was determined in the ratio of ankle dorsiflexion/plantar flexion muscle strength between the mild, moderate and severe venous insufficiency groups. A statistically considerable negative correlation was found between the Visual Analog Scale scores and the photoplethysmography results. According to the Visual Analog Scale results, as the degree of venous insufficiency increased, so did the level of pain. Conclusion Impaired lower extremity muscle strength was observed in chronic venous insufficiency patients. Although the current study was consistent with literature in respect of impaired calf muscle strength, this finding was also seen in the thigh muscles. Furthermore, we concluded that if venous insufficiency becomes more severe, impaired calf muscle strength becomes more evident.

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