Effect of a Portable EMG-based Combined Biofeedback Device (PECBD) for the Rectus Femoris, Biceps Femoris, and Tibialis Anterior Muscles on Stroke Gait

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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Muscle Activation in the Main Muscle Groups of the Lower Limbs in High-Level Dancesport Athletes

Medical Problems of Performing Artists ◽

10.21091/mppa.2018.4034 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 231-237

Author(s):

Encarnación Liébana ◽

Cristina Monleón ◽

Raquel Morales ◽

Carlos Pablos ◽

Consuelo Moratal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Gastrocnemius Medialis ◽

Leg Muscles ◽

Relative Activation ◽

Muscle Groups ◽

High Level

Dancers are subjected to high-intensity workouts when they practice dancesport, and according to the literature, they are prone to injury, primarily of the lower limbs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences exist in relative activation amplitudes for dancers involved in dancesport due to muscle, gender, and type of dance. Measurements were carried out using surface electromyography equipment during the choreography of a performance in the following leg muscles: rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medialis. Eight couples of active dancesport athletes (aged 20.50±2.75 yrs) were analyzed. Significant gender differences were found in rumba in the tibialis anterior (p≤0.05) and gastrocnemius medialis (p≤0.05). Based on the different activations, it is possible to establish possible mechanisms of injury, as well as tools for preventing injuries and improving sports performance.

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Effect of Changes in Cycle Ergometer Settings on Bioelectrical Activity in Selected Muscles of the Lower Limbs

Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism ◽

10.1515/pjst-2017-0022 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 228-234

Author(s):

Robert Staszkiewicz ◽

Michał Kawulak ◽

Leszek Nosiadek ◽

Jarosław Omorczyk ◽

Andrzej Nosiadek

Keyword(s):

Electrical Activity ◽

Action Potentials ◽

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Cycle Ergometer ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Bioelectrical Activity ◽

Vastus Medialis ◽

Similarities And Differences

AbstractIntroduction. The aim of this study was to measure the duration of biopotentials in selected muscles of the lower limbs, evaluate the time of elevated bioelectrical activity in these muscles, and identify similarities and differences in electrical phenomena that occur in the muscles for various external settings of a cycle ergometer.Material and methods. The study examined 10 healthy people (5 women and 5 men) aged from 20 to 30 years. A cycle ergometer and EMG apparatus were used in the experiment. The bioelectrical activity of six muscles of the lower limbs (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius caput mediale, and gastrocnemius caput laterale) was recorded for four different settings of the cycle ergometer (variable saddle height and method of foot attachment to pedals). The EMG records were presented with reference to the bicycle crankset rotation cycle.Conclusions. The study found that changing the height of the saddle of the cycle ergometer and the use of toe clips in the pedals caused changes in bioelectrical activity in the muscles. The adjustment of saddle height affected the duration of potentials more noticeably than the use of toe clips. Furthermore, only one period of elevated electrical activity in the muscles of the lower limbs was found in the pedalling cycle. The longest time of the presence of action potentials was recorded for the m. gastrocnemius caput laterale, whereas the shortest time was observed in the m. vastus medialis.

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Electromyography features during physical and imagined standing up in healthy young adults, Phitsanulok, Thailand

Journal of Health Research ◽

10.1108/jhr-08-2019-0175 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 89-101

Author(s):

Kanokwan Srisupornkornkool ◽

Kanphajee Sornkaew ◽

Kittithat Chatkanjanakool ◽

Chayanit Ampairattana ◽

Pariyanoot Pongtasom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Voluntary Contraction ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Content Type ◽

Standing Up ◽

Imagined Movement

PurposeTo compare the electromyography (EMG) features during physical and imagined standing up in healthy young adults.Design/methodology/approachTwenty-two participants (ages ranged from 20–29 years old) were recruited to participate in this study. Electrodes were attached to the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and the medial gastrocnemius muscles of both sides to monitor the EMG features during physical and imagined standing up. The %maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC), onset and duration were calculated.FindingsThe onset and duration of each muscle of both sides had no statistically significant differences between physical and imagined standing up (p > 0.05). The %MVC of all four muscles during physical standing up was statistically significantly higher than during imagined standing up (p < 0.05) on both sides. Moreover, the tibialis anterior muscle of both sides showed a statistically significant contraction before the other muscles (p < 0.05) during physical and imagined standing up.Originality/valueMuscles can be activated during imagined movement, and the patterns of muscle activity during physical and imagined standing up were similar. Imagined movement may be used in rehabilitation as an alternative or additional technique combined with other techniques to enhance the STS skill.

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Muscle Activation in World-Champion, World-Class, and National Breaststroke Swimmers

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2015-0703 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 538-547 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bjørn Harald Olstad ◽

Christoph Zinner ◽

João Rocha Vaz ◽

Jan M.H. Cabri ◽

Per-Ludvik Kjendlie

Keyword(s):

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Triceps Brachii ◽

Activation Patterns ◽

Muscle Activation Patterns ◽

World Class ◽

World Champion ◽

Maximal Effort

Purpose:To investigate the muscle-activation patterns and coactivation with the support of kinematics in some of the world’s best breaststrokers and identify performance discriminants related to national elites at maximal effort.Methods:Surface electromyography was collected in 8 muscles from 4 world-class (including 2 world champions) and 4 national elite breaststroke swimmers during a 25-m breaststroke at maximal effort.Results:World-class spent less time during the leg recovery (P = .043), began this phase with a smaller knee angle (154.6° vs 161.8°), and had a higher median velocity of 0.18 m/s during the leg glide than national elites. Compared with national elites, world-class swimmers showed a difference in the muscle-activation patterns for all 8 muscles. In the leg-propulsion phase, there was less triceps brachii activation (1 swimmer 6% vs median 23.0% [8.8]). In the leg-glide phase, there was activation in rectus femoris and gastrocnemius during the beginning of this phase (all world-class vs only 1 national elite) and a longer activation in pectoralis major (world champions 71% [0.5] vs 50.0 [4.3]) (propulsive phase of the arms). In the leg-recovery phase, there was more activation in biceps femoris (50.0% [15.0] vs 20.0% [14.0]) and a later and quicker activation in tibialis anterior (40.0% [7.8] vs 52.0% [6.0]). In the stroke cycle, there was no coactivation in tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius for world champions.Conclusion:These components are important performance discriminants. They can be used to improve muscle-activation patterns and kinematics through the different breaststroke phases. Furthermore, they can be used as focus points for teaching breaststroke to beginners.

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Analysis of Lower Limb Muscle Function in Ergometer Rowing

International Journal of Sport Biomechanics ◽

10.1123/ijsb.4.4.315 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 315-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

J.-M. John Wilson ◽

D. Gordon E. Robertson ◽

J. Peter Stothart

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Muscle Function ◽

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Gluteus Maximus ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Peak Force ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle

In an effort to seek further understanding of lower limb muscle function in the rowing movement, an electromyographic analysis was undertaken of rowers rowing on a Gjessing ergometer. A strain gauged transducer was inserted in the ergometer linkage between handle and flywheel to detect pulling force. Electrodes were placed on the following lower limb muscles: gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. Linear envelope electromyograms from each muscle and the force signals were sampled synchronously at 50 Hz. The results indicated that all six muscles were active from catch to finish of the drive phase. Biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, gastrocnemius, and vastus lateralis all began their activity at or just prior to catch and reached maximal excitation near peak force of the stroke. Rectus femoris and tibialis anterior activity began prior to the catch and reached maximal excitation subsequent to peak force. The coactivation of the five leg muscles, of which four were biarticular, included potentially antagonistic actions that would cancel each other’s effects. Clearly, however, other explanations must be considered. Both gastrocnemius and biceps femoris have been shown to act as knee extensors and may do so in the case of the rowing action. Furthermore, rectus femoris may act with unchanging length as a knee extensor by functioning as a rigid link between the pelvis and tibia. In this manner, energy created by the hip extensors is transferred across the knee joint via the isometrically contracting rectus femoris muscle.

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Comparison of Estimated and Measured Muscle Activity During Inclined Walking

Journal of Applied Biomechanics ◽

10.1123/jab.2015-0021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 150-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Nathalie Alexander ◽

Hermann Schwameder

Keyword(s):

Trend Analysis ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

A Priori ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Musculoskeletal Models ◽

Downhill Walking

While inclined walking is a frequent daily activity, muscle forces during this activity have rarely been examined. Musculoskeletal models are commonly used to estimate internal forces in healthy populations, but these require a priori validation. The aim of this study was to compare estimated muscle activity using a musculoskeletal model with measured EMG data during inclined walking. Ten healthy male participants walked at different inclinations of 0°, ± 6°, ± 12°, and ± 18° on a ramp equipped with 2 force plates. Kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity of the musculus (m.) biceps femoris, m. rectus femoris, m. vastus lateralis, m. tibialis anterior, and m. gastrocnemius lateralis were recorded. Agreement between estimated and measured muscle activity was determined via correlation coefficients, mean absolute errors, and trend analysis. Correlation coefficients between estimated and measured muscle activity for approximately 69% of the conditions were above 0.7. Mean absolute errors were rather high with only approximately 38% being ≤ 30%. Trend analysis revealed similar estimated and measured muscle activities for all muscles and tasks (uphill and downhill walking), except m. tibialis anterior during uphill walking. This model can be used for further analysis in similar groups of participants.

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Timing and Modulation of Activity in the Lower Limb Muscles During Indoor Rowing: What Are the Key Muscles to Target in FES-Rowing Protocols?

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s20061666 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 1666

Author(s):

Taian M. Vieira ◽

Giacinto Luigi Cerone ◽

Costanza Stocchi ◽

Morgana Lalli ◽

Brian Andrews ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Sample Surface ◽

Recovery Phase ◽

Lower Limb Muscles ◽

Limb Muscles ◽

Stimulation Of

The transcutaneous stimulation of lower limb muscles during indoor rowing (FES Rowing) has led to a new sport and recreation and significantly increased health benefits in paraplegia. Stimulation is often delivered to quadriceps and hamstrings; this muscle selection seems based on intuition and not biomechanics and is likely suboptimal. Here, we sample surface EMGs from 20 elite rowers to assess which, when, and how muscles are activated during indoor rowing. From EMG amplitude we specifically quantified the onset of activation and silencing, the duration of activity and how similarly soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and medialis, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris muscles were activated between limbs. Current results revealed that the eight muscles tested were recruited during rowing, at different instants and for different durations. Rectus and biceps femoris were respectively active for the longest and briefest periods. Tibialis anterior was the only muscle recruited within the recovery phase. No side differences in the timing of muscle activity were observed. Regression analysis further revealed similar, bilateral modulation of activity. The relevance of these results in determining which muscles to target during FES Rowing is discussed. Here, we suggest a new strategy based on the stimulation of vasti and soleus during drive and of tibialis anterior during recovery.

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Patterns of whole-body muscle activations following vertical perturbations during standing and walking

10.21203/rs.3.rs-18811/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Desiderio Cano Porras ◽

Jesse V. Jacobs ◽

Rivka Inzelberg ◽

Yotam Bahat ◽

Gabriel Zeilig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Visual Input ◽

Rectus Abdominis ◽

Whole Body ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Postural Responses ◽

Muscle Activations

Abstract Background: Falls commonly occur due to losses of balance associated with vertical body movements (e.g. reacting to uneven ground, street curbs). Research, however, has focused on horizontal perturbations, such as forward and backward translations of the standing surface. This study describes and compares muscle activation patterns following vertical and horizontal perturbations during standing and walking, and investigates the role of vision during the standing postural responses. Methods: Fourteen healthy participants (ten males; 27±4 years-old) responded to downward, upward, forward, and backward perturbations while standing and walking in a virtual reality (VR) facility containing a moveable platform with an embedded treadmill; participants were also exposed to visual perturbations in which only the virtual scenery moves. We collected bilateral surface electromyography (EMG) signals from 8 muscles (tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, rectus abdominis, external oblique, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, paraspinals, deltoids). Parameters included onset latency, duration of activation, and activation magnitude. Standing perturbations comprised dynamic-camera (congruent), static-camera (incongruent) and eyes-closed sensory conditions. ANOVAs were used to compare the effects of perturbation direction and sensory condition across muscles. Results: Vertical perturbations induced longer onset latencies and durations of activation with lower activation magnitudes in comparison to horizontal perturbations (p<0.0001). Downward perturbations while standing generated earlier activation of anterior muscles to facilitate flexion (for example, p=0.0005 and p=0.0021 when comparing the early activators, rectus femoris and tibialis anterior, to a late activator, the paraspinals), whereas upward perturbations generated earlier activation of posterior muscles to facilitate extension (for example, p<0.0001 and p=0.0004, when comparing the early activators, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius, to a late activator, the rectus abdominis). Static-camera conditions induced longer onset latencies (p=0.0085 and p<0.0001 compared to eyes-closed and dynamic-camera conditions, respectively), whereas eyes-closed conditions induced longer durations of activation (p=0.0001 and p=0.0008 compared to static-camera and dynamic-camera, respectively) and larger activation magnitudes. During walking, downward perturbations promptly activated contralateral trunk and deltoid muscles (e.g., p=0.0036 for contralateral deltoid versus a late activator, the ipsilateral tibialis anterior), and upward perturbations triggered early activation of trunk flexors (e.g., p=0.0308 for contralateral rectus abdominis versus a late activator, the ipsilateral gastrocnemius). Visual perturbations elicited muscle activation in 67.7% of trials.Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that vertical (vs. horizontal) perturbations generate unique balance-correcting muscle activations, which were consistent with counteracting vertical body extension induced by downward perturbations and vertical body flexion induced by upward perturbations. Availability of visual input appears to affect response efficiency, and incongruent visual input can adversely affect response triggering. Our findings have clinical implications for the design of robotic exoskeletons (to ensure user safety in dynamic balance environments) and for perturbation-based balance and gait rehabilitation.

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Neuromuscular Responses of Elite Skaters During Different Roller Figure Skating Jumps

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2014-0029 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 23-32

Author(s):

Patrícia Dias Pantoja ◽

André Mello ◽

Giane Veiga Liedtke ◽

Ana Carolina Kanitz ◽

Eduardo Lusa Cadore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Gluteus Maximus ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Figure Skating ◽

Vastus Medialis ◽

Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽

Neuromuscular Activity

AbstractThis study aimed to describe the neuromuscular activity of elite athletes who performed various roller figure skating jumps, to determine whether the muscle activation is greater during jumps with more rotations and in which phase the muscles are more active. This study also aimed to analyze if there is any difference in the muscle activity pattern between female and male skaters. Four elite skaters were evaluated, and each participated in two experimental sessions. During the first session, anthropometric data were collected, and the consent forms were signed. For the second session, neuromuscular data were collected during jumps, which were performed with skates at a rink. The following four roller figure skating jumps were evaluated: single Axel, double Axel, double Mapes and triple Mapes. The neuromuscular activity of the following seven muscles was obtained with an electromyograph which was fixed to the waist of each skater with a strap: biceps femoris, lateral gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and gluteus maximus. The signal was transmitted wirelessly to a laptop. During the roller figure skating jumps, the lateral gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris and gluteus maximus, showed more activation during the jumps with more rotations, and the activation mainly occurred during the propulsion and flight phases. Female skaters demonstrated higher muscle activities in tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and gluteus maximus during the landing phase of the triple Mapes, when compared to their male counterparts. The results obtained in this study should be considered when planning training programs with specific exercises that closely resemble the roller figure skating jumps. This may be important for the success of elite skaters in competitions.

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