title: Comparison of toe grip strength and muscle activities during maximal toe grip strength exertion according to the presence/absence of an ankle immobilization belt.
abstract: [Purpose] The aim of this study was to compare toe grip strength and muscle activity during toe grip strength exertion according to the presence/absence of an ankle immobilization belt and to examine the relationship between the differences in muscle activity and toe grip strength. [Subjects] The Subjects were 13 healthy young women. [Methods] We measured toe grip strength and muscle activity during toe grip strength exertion in the presence and absence of an ankle immobilization belt using electromyography. Activity in the following leg muscles was recorded: rectus femoris, biceps femoris, medial head of the gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. We then calculated the percent integrated electromyography during toe gripping. [Results] Toe grip strength and percent integrated electromyography of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly higher with ankle belt immobilization compared with without ankle belt immobilization. In addition, in the presence of ankle belt immobilization, the percent integrated electromyography of the tibialis anterior muscle and medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle demonstrated a positive correlation with toe grip strength (r = 0.75 and r = 0.65, respectively). [Conclusion] These findings suggest that greater toe grip strength could be exerted in the presence of ankle belt immobilization. The measured values reflect the percent integrated electromyography of the crural muscles. Therefore, it was shown that toe grip strength should be measured in the presence of an immobilization belt.
authors.affiliation: Course of Rehabilitation, Department of Health Sciences, Tohoku Fukushi University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.affiliation: Course of Physical Therapy, Department of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: Course of Physical Therapy, Department of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kai
authors.affiliation: Course of Rehabilitation, Department of Health Sciences, Tohoku Fukushi University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakae
authors.affiliation: Course of Rehabilitation, Department of Health Sciences, Tohoku Fukushi University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yousuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Satou
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: Course of Physical Therapy, Department of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
keywords: Immobilization belt; Muscle activity; Toe gripping strength