title: Electromyography and sonomyography analysis of the tibialis anterior: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foot dorsiflexion plays an essential role in both controlling balance and human gait. Electromyography (EMG) and sonomyography (SMG) can provide information on several aspects of muscle function. The aim was to establish the relationship between the EMG and SMG variables during isotonic contractions of foot dorsiflexors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven healthy young adults performed the foot dorsiflexion test on a device designed ad hoc. EMG variables were maximum peak and area under the curve. Muscular architecture variables were muscle thickness and pennation angle. Descriptive statistical analysis, inferential analysis and a multivariate linear regression model were carried out. The confidence level was established with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The correlation between EMG variables and SMG variables was r = 0.462 (p < 0.05). The linear regression model to the dependent variable "peak normalized tibialis anterior (TA)" from the independent variables "pennation angle and thickness", was significant (p = 0.002) with an explained variance of R2 = 0.693 and SEE = 0.16.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant relationship and degree of contribution between EMG and SMG variables during isotonic contractions of the TA muscle. Our results suggest that EMG and SMG can be feasible tools for monitoring and assessment of foot dorsiflexors. TA muscle parameterization and assessment is relevant in order to know that increased strength accelerates the recovery of lower limb injuries.
authors: Nursing and Podiatry Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malaga, Av/Arquitecto Peñalosa s/n (Teatinos Campus Expansion), 29009 Malaga, Spain.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Ruiz-Muñoz
authors: Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), University of Malaga, Av/Arquitecto Peñalosa s/n (Teatinos Campus Expansion), 29009 Malaga, Spain.|School of Clinical Sciences at Queensland University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Antonio I
authors: AI
authors: Cuesta-Vargas