Differences in lower-extremity muscular activation during walking between healthy older and young adults |
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| Authors: | Anne Schmitz Amy Silder Bryan Heiderscheit Jane Mahoney Darryl G Thelen |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA;2. Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA;3. Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2870 University Ave., Suite 106, Madison, WI 53705, USA;4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA;1. School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA;2. Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA;1. Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Care and Rehabilitation, Seijoh University, 2-172 Fukinodai, Toukai-City, Aichi 476-8588, Japan;2. Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53, Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan;1. Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA;2. Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC;1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University, USA;2. Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, USA;3. Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, UniServices House, 70 Symonds Street, New Zealand;4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, USA;1. Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy;2. Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Previous studies have identified differences in gait kinetics between healthy older and young adults. However, the underlying factors that cause these changes are not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of age and speed on the activation of lower-extremity muscles during human walking. We recorded electromyography (EMG) signals of the soleus, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, medial hamstrings, tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris as healthy young and older adults walked over ground at slow, preferred and fast walking speeds. Nineteen healthy older adults (age, 73 ± 5 years) and 18 healthy young adults (age, 26 ± 3 years) participated. Rectified EMG signals were normalized to mean activities over a gait cycle at the preferred speed, allowing for an assessment of how the activity was distributed over the gait cycle and modulated with speed. Compared to the young adults, the older adults exhibited greater activation of the tibialis anterior and soleus during mid-stance at all walking speeds and greater activation of the vastus lateralis and medial hamstrings during loading and mid-stance at the fast walking speed, suggesting increased coactivation across the ankle and knee. In addition, older adults depend less on soleus muscle activation to push off at faster walking speeds. We conclude that age-related changes in neuromuscular activity reflect a strategy of stiffening the limb during single support and likely contribute to reduced push off power at fast walking speeds. |
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