Variability of electromyographic patterns for level-surface walking through a range of self-selected speeds.
The surface electromyographic patterns of eight muscles and the foot-contact patterns exhibited by 25 normal persons between the ages of 20 and 40, were measured and studied. These persons were walking indoors on a level surface without shoes at several different self-selected walking speeds. The electromyographic patterns demonstrated a considerable amount of interindividual variability at each speed. There were definite trends in the number of individuals exhibiting each pattern type as walking speed increased. The foot-contact patterns showed a consistent sequencing of foot events at all speeds with the double-limb support stages and stance phase comprising a smaller percentage of the gait cycle as speed increased.
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology