A1 Journal article (refereed)
Effect of Biomechanical Footwear on upper and lower leg muscle activity in comparison with knee brace and normal walking (2021)
Ylinen, J., Pennanen, A., Weir, A., Häkkinen, A., & Multanen, J. (2021). Effect of Biomechanical Footwear on upper and lower leg muscle activity in comparison with knee brace and normal walking. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 57, Article 102528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2021.102528
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Ylinen, Jari; Pennanen, Antti; Weir, Adam; Häkkinen, Arja; Multanen, Juhani
Journal or series: Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
ISSN: 1050-6411
eISSN: 1873-5711
Publication year: 2021
Volume: 57
Article number: 102528
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2021.102528
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74433
Abstract
To evaluate the activity of knee stabilizing muscles while using custom-made biomechanical footwear (BF) and to compare it when walking barefoot and with a knee brace (Unloader®).
Methods
Seventeen healthy working-aged (mean age: 28 years; standard deviation: 8 years) individuals participated. The knee brace was worn on the right knee and BF in both legs. Surface electromyography (sEMG) data was recorded bilaterally from vastus medialis (VM), semitendinosus (ST), tibialis anterior (TA) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles during walking, and repeated-measures ANOVA with a post-hoc t-test was used to determine differences between the different walking modalities (barefoot, brace and BF).
Results
Averaged sEMG was significantly higher when walking with BF than barefoot or knee brace in ST and LG muscles. It was significantly lower when walking with the brace compared to barefoot in the right and left ST, LG and TA muscles. Analysis of the ensemble-averaged sEMG profiles showed earlier activation of TA muscles when walking with BF compared to other walking modalities.
Conclusion
BF produced greater activation in evaluated lower leg muscles compared to barefoot walking. Thus BF may have an exercise effect in rehabilitation and further studies about its effectiveness are warranted.
Keywords: biomechanics; walking (motion); footwear; knees; electromyography; arthrosis; exercise therapy
Free keywords: biomechanical device; footwear; knee brace; surface electromyography; knee osteoarthritis; exercise therapy; gait analysis
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 1
