• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.363-370
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of speed variations in treadmill training on the thickness of lower extremity muscles. A total of 36 university students were divided into three groups: MVTG (n=12), HVTG (n=12), and ATG (n=12). Subjects in MVTG underwent treadmill training with their own average speed; those in HVTG underwent treadmill training with 130% speed of their own average speed; and those in ATG underwent treadmill training with alteration of speed, between 100% and 130% of their own average speed. Treadmill training was performed for 60 minutes a day, three times per week, for a total of 6 weeks. Ultrasonography was used to compare the muscle thickness between rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. The result was as follows: The rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and gastrocnemius were significantly increased after the training period, and they also were statistically significant in interaction. Moreover, tibialis anterior was also significantly increased. Therefore, compared to the average-speed treadmill training, speed variations had a greater effect on thickening the lower extremity muscles. In the near future, we will conduct a study applying the findings from this study in a rehabilitation program for patients with gait disturbance due to nervous or musculoskeletal system disease.