The effects of grade and speed on leg muscle activations during walking.

ABSTRACT: Compared to level walking, additional muscle actions are required to raise and lower the center of mass during uphill and downhill walking, respectively. However, it remains unclear which muscle recruitment strategies are employed at typical grades when walking over a range of speeds. Based on previous reports, we hypothesized that, across a range of walking speeds, hip, knee, and ankle extensor muscle activations would increase with steeper uphill grade, but only knee extensor muscle activations would increase with steeper downhill grade. We also hypothesized that these changes in muscle activations with grade would become more pronounced at faster walking speeds. To test these hypotheses, 10 young adults (5M/5F) walked on a standard treadmill at seven grades (0°, ± 3°, ± 6°, and ± 9°) an

SUBMITTER: Franz JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3262943 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature