• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.125-133
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to compare EMG activities on the lower limb muscles during power walking and mormal walking. Seventeen subjects who have no known musculoskeletal disorders performed walking exercise at a cadence of 140 beats/min. After surface electrodes were attached to rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, averageed IEMG and peak IEMG, were measured. The result showed that the power walking did influence the averaged IEMG and peak IEMG. The EMG activity of the quadriceps during power walking was significantly higher than the corresponding values in normal walking during most phases. The averaged IEMG and peak IEMG of gastrocnemius muscles at the end of the double limb stance increased significantly when going from normal walking to power walking. The results indicate that power walking had greater effect on EMG activities on the lower limb muscles and demonstrate that the wide range of benefits can be obtained from power walking in respect to health and fitness. This study suggests that power walking has the potential to improve aerobic fitness and assist in weight management.