title: Lower extremity muscle activity during deep-water running on self-determined pace.
abstract: Although deep-water running (DWR) is often used to obtain the benefits of aerobic fitness and to reduce vertical component stress, its attendant muscle stress remains unclear. The present study investigated lower extremity muscle activity and during DWR compared to that during land walking (LW) and water walking (WW). Surface electromyography was used to evaluate muscle activity in nine healthy adults during each exercise at self-determined slow, moderate, and fast paces. The duration of swing phase, ankle, knee and hip joint angle, and each joint range of motion (ROM) also investigated. Results show that the percentages of maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC) of the soleus and medial gastrocnemius were lower during DWR than during LW or WW in the backward swing phase. The %MVC of the rectus femoris was higher during WW and DWR than during LW; that of the vastus lateralis was lower during WW and DWR than during LW in the forward swing phase. In the biceps femoris, the %MVC was higher during DWR than during LW or WW in the forward and backward swing phase. Every pace showed a similar trend. These results suggest that DWR can stimulate the hip joint flexor or extensor muscles.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan. koichikaneda@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaneda
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uekusa
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water