Altering muscle activity in the lower extremities by bipedal landing with different drop tasks and shoes

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Changxiao Yu ◽  
Chenhao Yang ◽  
Liqin Deng ◽  
Weijie Fu

BACKGROUND: The ability of the lower-extremity muscle activation directly affects the performance and in turn interacts with the loading conditions of the muscle itself. However, systematic information concerning the characteristics of lower-extremity muscle during landings is lacking. In particular, the landing height and shoes are also important factors based on the actual situation, which could further contribute to understanding the neuromuscular activity and how biochemical response of the body tissues to double-leg drop landings. OBJECTIVE: The study was to investigate the effects of landing tasks on the activation of lower-extremity muscles and explore the relationship among movement control, landing heights, shoe cushioning, and muscle activities. METHODS: Twelve male basketball players were recruited to perform drop jump (DJ) and passive landing (PL) from three heights (30, 45, and 60 cm) while wearing highly-cushioned basketball shoes (HC) and less-cushioned control shoes (LC). EMG electrodes were used to record the activities of the target muscles (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and lateral gastrocnemius) during the landing tasks. RESULTS: Pre- and post-activation activity of the lower-extremity muscles significantly decreased during PL compared with those during DJ (p< 0.05). No significant shoe effects on the characteristics of muscle activation and coactivation during DJ movements were observed. However, the participants wearing LC showed significantly higher muscle post-activation (p< 0.05) at the three drop heights during PL compared with those wearing HC. Coactivation of the ankle muscles was higher in LC than in HC during 30-cm PL (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The activation patterns of lower-extremity muscles can be significantly influenced by landing types. Highly-cushioned basketball shoes would help reduce the risk of injuries by appropriately tuning the muscles during the PL.

1997 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 2073-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Sloniger ◽  
Kirk J. Cureton ◽  
Barry M. Prior ◽  
Ellen M. Evans

Sloniger, Mark A., Kirk J. Cureton, Barry M. Prior, and Ellen M. Evans. Lower extremity muscle activation during horizontal and uphill running. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(6): 2073–2079, 1997.—To provide more comprehensive information on the extent and pattern of muscle activation during running, we determined lower extremity muscle activation by using exercise-induced contrast shifts in magnetic resonance (MR) images during horizontal and uphill high-intensity (115% of peak oxygen uptake) running to exhaustion (2.0–3.9 min) in 12 young women. The mean percentage of muscle volume activated in the right lower extremity was significantly ( P <0.05) greater during uphill (73 ± 7%) than during horizontal (67 ± 8%) running. The percentage of 13 individual muscles or groups activated varied from 41 to 90% during horizontal running and from 44 to 83% during uphill running. During horizontal running, the muscles or groups most activated were the adductors (90 ± 5%), semitendinosus (86 ± 13%), gracilis (76 ± 20%), biceps femoris (76 ± 12%), and semimembranosus (75 ± 12%). During uphill running, the muscles most activated were the adductors (83 ± 8%), biceps femoris (79 ± 7%), gluteal group (79 ± 11%), gastrocnemius (76 ± 15%), and vastus group (75 ± 13%). Compared with horizontal running, uphill running required considerably greater activation of the vastus group (23%) and soleus (14%) and less activation of the rectus femoris (29%), gracilis (18%), and semitendinosus (17%). We conclude that during high-intensity horizontal and uphill running to exhaustion, lasting 2–3 min, muscles of the lower extremity are not maximally activated, suggesting there is a limit to the extent to which additional muscle mass recruitment can be utilized to meet the demand for force and energy. Greater total muscle activation during exhaustive uphill than during horizontal running is achieved through an altered pattern of muscle activation that involves increased use of some muscles and less use of others.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (9a) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
İlbilge Özsu ◽  
Hayri Ertan ◽  
Deniz Şimşek ◽  
Bahtiyar Özçaldiran ◽  
Cem Kurt

A limited number of acute whole body vibration (WBV) studies have investigated the effects of WBV treatments which were applied with different vibration frequencies and amplitude combinations on lower extremity muscle activation of well-trained athletes from different sports branches. To compare the effects of WBV on lower extremity muscle activation via Surface Electromyography (sEMG) of well-trained athletes from different sports branches (soccer, basketball and swimming) during static and dynamic squat exercises. sEMG activities of Tibialis Anterior (TA), Gastrocnemius Medialis (GM), Vastus Medialis (VM), Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Lateralis (VL) and Biceps Femoris (BF) muscles of 7 male soccer players, 7 male basketball players, and 6 male swimmers were recorded during WBV applied in static squat and dynamic squat positions with different frequencies (30-35-40 Hz) and amplitude (2-4 mm) combinations separated from each other by 5 min passive rest periods. Each combination was applied for 30 sec. The highest muscle activation was determined in TA of the swimmers compared to soccer players during static squat with 4mm-30Hz WBV application (p=0.027). The lowest muscle activation was also determined in VL of the swimmers compared to soccer players during static squat with 2mm-40Hz WBV (p=0.049). During dynamic squat with 4mm-40Hz WBV, the highest muscle activity was determined in RF of the basketball players compared to swimmers (p=0.030). However, dynamic squat with 2mm-40Hz WBV application gave rise to the lowest muscle activation in VL of the basketball players compared to soccer players (p=0.042). Well-trained athletes from different sports branches demonstrated different neuromuscular responses to acute WBV treatments. WBV during dynamic squatting which was applied with 4mm-40 Hz may be more beneficial in enhancing neuromuscular performance acutely for well-trained male athletes since it resulted in higher levels of muscular activation responses according to the present study.


2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Erin Earl ◽  
Jay Hertel

Objective:To identify integrated EMG (I-EMG) activity of 6 lower-extremity muscles during the 8 Star Excursion Balance Tests (SEBTs).Design and Setting:Repeated measures, laboratory setting.Subjects:10 healthy young adults.Interventions:The SEBTs require the subject to balance on the stance leg and maximally reach with the contralateral foot along each of 8 lines extending from a common axis at 45° intervals.Measures:I-EMG activity of the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), medial hamstring (MH), biceps femoris (BF), anterior tibialis (AT), and gas-trocnemius.Results:Significant differences were found in all muscles (P < .05) except the gastrocnemius (P = .08). VMO and VL activity tended to be greatest with anteriorly directed excursions, whereas the MH and BF activity were greatest with posteriorly directed excursions. AT activity was lowest with the lateral excursion.Conclusions:Performance of the different SEBTs results in different lower-extremity muscle-activation patterns.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Matthew Silvers ◽  
Eadric Bressel ◽  
D. Clark Dickin ◽  
Garry Killgore ◽  
Dennis G. Dolny

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.


1998 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 927-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Li ◽  
Graham E. Caldwell

The purpose of the present study was to examine the neuromuscular modifications of cyclists to changes in grade and posture. Eight subjects were tested on a computerized ergometer under three conditions with the same work rate (250 W): pedaling on the level while seated, 8% uphill while seated, and 8% uphill while standing (ST). High-speed video was taken in conjunction with surface electromyography (EMG) of six lower extremity muscles. Results showed that rectus femoris, gluteus maximus (GM), and tibialis anterior had greater EMG magnitude in the ST condition. GM, rectus femoris, and the vastus lateralis demonstrated activity over a greater portion of the crank cycle in the ST condition. The muscle activities of gastrocnemius and biceps femoris did not exhibit profound differences among conditions. Overall, the change of cycling grade alone from 0 to 8% did not induce a significant change in neuromuscular coordination. However, the postural change from seated to ST pedaling at 8% uphill grade was accompanied by increased and/or prolonged muscle activity of hip and knee extensors. The observed EMG activity patterns were discussed with respect to lower extremity joint moments. Monoarticular extensor muscles (GM, vastus lateralis) demonstrated greater modifications in activity patterns with the change in posture compared with their biarticular counterparts. Furthermore, muscle coordination among antagonist pairs of mono- and biarticular muscles was altered in the ST condition; this finding provides support for the notion that muscles within these antagonist pairs have different functions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 2345
Author(s):  
Susmita Roy ◽  
Ana Alves-Pinto ◽  
Renée Lampe

The present study estimated muscle activation from electromyographic (EMG) recordings in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) during cycling on an ergometer. This could be used as an input to the modeling of muscle force following the neuromusculoskeletal modeling technique which can help to understand the alterations in neuromotor processes underlying disabilities in CP. EMG signals of lower extremity muscle activity from 14 adult patients with CP and 10 adult healthy participants were used here to derive muscle activation. With a self developed EMG system, signals from the following muscles were recorded: Musculus tibialis anterior, Musculus gastrocnemius, Musculus rectus femoris, and Musculus biceps femoris. Collected EMG signals were mathematically transformed into muscle activation following a parameter dependent and a nonlinear transformation. Muscle activation values from patients with CP were compared to equivalent reference values obtained from healthy controls. Muscle activation calculated at specific foot positions deviated clearly from reference values. The deviation was larger for patients with higher degree of spasticity. Observations underline the need of muscle force modeling during cycling for individualized cycling training for rehabilitation strategy.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Torres ◽  
David Chorro ◽  
Archit Navandar ◽  
Javier Rueda ◽  
Luís Fernández ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study aimed to study the co-activation of hamstring-quadriceps muscles during submaximal strength exercises without the use of maximum voluntary isometric contraction testing and compare (i) the inter-limb differences in muscle activation, (ii) the intra-muscular group activation pattern, and (iii) the activation during different phases of the exercise. Muscle activation was recorded by surface electromyography of 19 elite male youth players. Participants performed five repetitions of the Bulgarian squat, lunge and the squat with an external load of 10 kg. Electrical activity was recorded for the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus. No significant inter-limb differences were found (F1, 13=619; p=0.82; partial η2=0.045). Significant differences were found in the muscle activation between different muscles within the muscle group (quadriceps and hamstrings) for each of the exercises: Bulgarian squat (F1,18=331: p<0.001; partial η2=0.80), lunge (F4,72=114.5; p<0.001; partial η2=0.86) and squat (F1,16=247.31; p<0.001; partial η2=0.93).Differences were found between the concentric, isometric and eccentric phases of each of the exercises (F2, 26=52.27; p=0.02; partial η2=0.80). The existence of an activation pattern of each of the muscles in the three proposed exercises could be used for muscle assessment and as a tool for injury recovery.


Author(s):  
Isabel Martín-Fuentes ◽  
José M. Oliva-Lozano ◽  
José M. Muyor

The aim of this study was to analyze the literature on muscle activation measured by surface electromyography (sEMG) of the muscles recruited when performing the leg press exercise and its variants. The Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to report this review. The search was carried out using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases. The articles selected met the following inclusion criteria: (a) a cross-sectional or longitudinal study design; (b) neuromuscular activation assessed during the leg press exercise, or its variants; (c) muscle activation data collected using sEMG; and (d) study samples comprising healthy and trained participants. The main findings indicate that the leg press exercise elicited the greatest sEMG activity from the quadriceps muscle complex, which was shown to be greater as the knee flexion angle increased. In conclusion, (1) the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis elicited the greatest muscle activation during the leg press exercise, followed closely by the rectus femoris; (2) the biceps femoris and the gastrocnemius medialis showed greater muscular activity as the knee reached full extension, whereas the vastus lateralis and medialis, the rectus femoris, and the tibialis anterior showed a decreasing muscular activity pattern as the knee reached full extension; (3) evidence on the influence of kinematics modifications over sEMG during leg press variants is still not compelling as very few studies match their findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35
Author(s):  
Shen Zhang ◽  
Weijie Fu ◽  
Yu Liu

AbstractWe aimed to explore the biomechanical differences between the anticipated drop jump and unanticipated drop landing. Twelve male collegiate basketball players completed an anticipated drop jump and unanticipated drop landing with double legs from a height of 30 cm. Kinematics, impact force, soft tissue vibrations, and electromyographic (EMG) amplitudes of the dominant leg were collected simultaneously. The anticipated drop jump showed more flexed lower limbs during landing and increased range of motion compared to the unanticipated drop landing. The anticipated drop jump also had lower impact force, lesser soft tissue vibration, and a greater damp coefficient at the thigh muscles compared with the unanticipated drop landing. Significant increases in the EMG amplitudes of the tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris were observed in the anticipated drop jump during the pre/post-activation and downward phases. The anticipated drop jump presented more optimized landing posture control with more joint flexion, lower impact force, less soft tissue vibrations, and full preparation of muscle activations compared with the unanticipated drop landing.


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna M. Millard ◽  
John A. Mercer

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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