title: Walking with a four wheeled walker (rollator) significantly reduces EMG lower-limb muscle activity in healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immediate effect of four-wheeled- walker(rollator)walking on lower-limb muscle activity and trunk-sway in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional design electromyographic (EMG) data was collected in six lower-limb muscle groups and trunk-sway was measured as peak-to-peak angular displacement of the centre-of-mass (level L2/3) in the sagittal and frontal-planes using the SwayStar balance system. 19 subjects walked at self-selected speed firstly without a rollator then in randomised order 1. with rollator 2. with rollator with increased weight-bearing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rollator-walking caused statistically significant reductions in EMG activity in lower-limb muscle groups and effect-sizes were medium to large. Increased weight-bearing increased the effect. Trunk-sway in the sagittal and frontal-planes showed no statistically significant difference between conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rollator-walking reduces lower-limb muscle activity but trunk-sway remains unchanged as stability is likely gained through forces generated by the upper-limbs. Short-term stability is gained but the long-term effect is unclear and requires investigation.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, Salinenstrasse 98, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland; Bern University of Applied Sciences, Health, Bern, Switzerland; Bildungszentrum Gesundheit Basel-Stadt, Studiengang Physiotherapie, Münchenstein, Switzerland. Electronic address: Z.Suica@reha-rhf.ch.
authors.forename: Zorica
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Suica
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Movement Analysis, University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romkes
authors.affiliation: Bern University of Applied Sciences, Health, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.affiliation: Bildungszentrum Gesundheit Basel-Stadt, Studiengang Physiotherapie, Münchenstein, Switzerland; Caphri Research School, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maguire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014853:Walkers; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Assistive devices; EMG; Rollator; Trunk stability; Wheeled-walker