title: Electromyographic Activity of Soleus and Tibialis Anterior Muscles during Ascending and Descending Stairs of Different Heights.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the two leg muscles (Tibialis anterior [TA] and Soleus [SOL]) during ascending and descending stairs with different heights (10 cm, 15.5 cm and 18 cm).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen female university students aged between 20 and 36 yr participated in the study. Data were collected using a ME6000 Biomonitor EMG System (revision MT-M6T16-0) and surface electrodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EMG activity of the SOL muscle was significantly higher than the TA muscle activity (P = 0.001). Besides, the muscle activity level of the SOL muscle was significantly higher when ascending compared to descending condi-tion (P = 0.001). The stair height had no significant effect of the EMG activity of the two muscles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight that the two muscles are not equally affected by the stair height during ascending and descending condition. The results also indicate that there is no preference between different stair heights in terms of muscular effort.
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Eteraf Oskouei
authors: Department of Occupational Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Nehzat
authors: N
authors: Ferdosrad
authors: Department of Occupational Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Iman
authors: I
authors: Dianat
authors: Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Mohamad
authors: M
authors: Asghari Jafarabadi
authors: Department of Occupational Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Jalil
authors: J
authors: Nazari
keywords: Electromyographic; Stair gait; Stair height
references: J Orthop Res. 2005 Mar;23(2):322-6
references: 15734243
references: J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 1997 Jun;7(2):123-30
references: 20719697
references: J Biomech. 1988;21(9):733-44
references: 3182877
references: J Oral Rehabil. 2000 May;27(5):394-402
references: 10887912
references: J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1967 Nov;49(4):774-80
references: 6073194
references: Proc Inst Mech Eng H. 2009 Oct;223(7):863-74
references: 19908425
references: J Appl Physiol (1985). 2005 Jun;98(6):2087-95
references: 15705725
references: J Appl Physiol (1985). 2003 Oct;95(4):1648-55
references: 12777410
references: Knee. 2009 Oct;16(5):375-80
references: 19285411
references: Appl Ergon. 2012 Mar;43(2):413-23
references: 21777904
references: J Rehabil Res Dev. 2007;44(3):429-35
references: 18247239
references: Ergonomics. 2012;55(11):1429-51
references: 22897425
references: Ergonomics. 2010 Dec;53(12):1468-83
references: 21108084
references: J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1980 Jul;62(5):749-57
references: 7391098
references: Appl Ergon. 1990 Sep;21(3):215-25
references: 15676777