Effect of gait speed on muscle activity patterns and magnitude during stance.
This study aims to assess the influence of gait speed (manipulated through cadence) on muscle activity patterns and activation degree during stance.


METHODS
Thirty-five healthy individuals participated in this study. Surface electromyographic activity from the gastrocnemius medialis (GM), gluteus maximus (GMax), biceps femoris (BF) and rectus femoris (RF) was acquired with subjects walking at three different speeds.


RESULTS
Speed influenced: (1) relative motor activity patterns at heel strike, midstance-propulsion transition and propulsion; (2) the activity level of RF, GMax, GM and BF, in decreasing order, with higher activity at the fastest and slowest speeds.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, muscle activity was higher at the fastest and slowest speeds than at the self-selected speed and only the activity of the main actions in each subphase remained stable. These findings suggest that gait speeds different from the self-selected speed influence not only activity levels but also relative muscle activity patterns. As a result, caution is advised when choosing standard speeds in gait studies, as this can lead to increased variability in relative muscle activity patterns.
Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saude do Instituto Politecnico do Porto, Area Cientifica de Fisioterapia / Centro de Estudos de Movimento e Actividade Humana, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Andreia S P
AS
Sousa
João Manuel
JM
Tavares
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009038:Motion; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*