The Influence of Angle Change of the Forefoot's Adhesive Outsole Designs on the Electromyographic Activity of the Erector Spinae and Selected Lower Limb Muscles during Downhill Walking

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of angle change of forefoot's adhesive outsole on the electromyographic activity (EMG) of the erector spinae and selected lower limbs muscle during downhill walking over $-20^{\circ}$ ramp. Thirteen male university students (age: $25.4{\pm}3.9$ yrs, height: $176.2{\pm}5.1$ cm, weight: $717.4{\pm}105.0$ N) who have no musculoskeletal disorder were recruited as the subjects. To assess the myoelectric activities of selected muscles, six of surface EMG electrodes with on-site pre-amplification circuitry were attached to erector spinae (ES), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), and medial gastrocnemius (MG). To obtain maximum EMG levels of the selected muscles for normalization, five maximum effort isometric contraction were performed before the experimental trials. Each subject walked over $0^{\circ}$ and $20^{\circ}$ ramp with three different forefeet's EVA outsole (0, 10, $20^{\circ}$) in random order at a speed of $1.2{\pm}0.1$ m/s. For each trial being analyzed, five critical instants and four phases were identified from the recording. The results of this study showed that the average muscle activities of MG and LG decreased in $20^{\circ}$ shoes compared to $0^{\circ}$ and $10^{\circ}$ ones in the initial double limb stance (IDLS). In initial single limb stance (ISLS) phase, the average muscle activities of ES increased with the angle of forefoot's adhesive outsole, indicating that the increment of shoes' angle induce upper body to flex anteriorly in order to maintain balance of trunk. In terminal double limb stance (TDLS) phase, average muscle activities of TA significantly increased in $20^{\circ}$ outsole compared to $0^{\circ}$ and $10^{\circ}$ ones. There was no external forces acting on the right foot other than the gravity during terminal single limb stance (TSLS) phase, all muscles maintained moderate levels of activity.

내리막 보행시 발 전족부 부착형 아웃솔의 각도 변화가 척추기립근과 하지근의 근활성도에 미치는 영향