Muscle Activation Analysis of Flatfoot According to the Slope of a Treadmill

• Published in: Journal of Physical Therapy Science 2013/03/25, Vol.25(3), pp.225-227
• Main Authors: Kim, Myoung-Kwon, Lee, Chang-Ryeol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electromyography; Gait; Slope
• ISSN: 0915-5287; 2187-5626
• DOI: 10.1589/jpts.25.225

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the difference between the flatfoot and normal foot on slopes using electromyography. [Subjects] This study was conducted on 30 adults having normal feet (N=15) and flatfeet (N=15) from who were 21 to 30 years old and no neurological history or gait problems. [Methods] A treadmill (AC5000M, SCIFIT, UK) was used to analyze kinematic features during walking, using slopes of −10, 0, and 10% and normal gait velocities. A surface electromyogram (TeleMyo 2400T, Noraxon Co., USA) was used to measure muscle activity changes. [Results] Muscle activity of the flatfoot was significantly different at most muscles, and muscle activity in the normal foot was significantly different in the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius. Comparison of muscle activity between the flatfoot and normal foot showed significant differences in the tibialis anterior and abductor hallucis muscle. [Conclusion] In the gait of people with flatfoot while walking on slopes, muscle activation of the tibialis anterior is higher than for normal feet and muscle activation of the abductor hallucis muscle is relatively lower than for normal feet in the gait while walking on slopes. This is due to lack of the ability to absorb shock on the ground as a result of the weakned function of the medial longitudinal arch.