Effect of Flat and Inclined Gait on Ankle Muscle Activity

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the ankle muscles of the anterior and posterior cooperate and smoothly gait in the uphill and downhill sloping situations. The subjects were 20 young college students (M =10, F =10) who were 21 to 25 years old at S university located in Dangjin, Chungnam, Republic of Korea.

The subjects were measured MVIC(Maximum Voluntary Isomeric Contraction) of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius and measured the muscle activity of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius after gait at flat, downhill10, uphill10°on the treadmill. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and SPSS 12.0 version was used.

There was no difference in the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius in the flat and downhill10. There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between the flat and the uphill10, downhill10°and uphill10. The tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius showed more muscle activity when walking uphill10°compared with walking on flat and downhill10.

Coordinated muscle action of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius is essential for a functional and stable gait that can walk on rugged, uneven ground.