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sEMG Activation of the Flexor Muscles in the Foot during Balance Tasks by Young and Older Women: A Pilot Study

Author

Listed:
  • Monika Błaszczyszyn

    (Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758 Opole, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Szczęsna

    (Institute of Informatics, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland)

  • Katarzyna Piechota

    (Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758 Opole, Poland)

Abstract

Objective: In this publication, we suggest that young adults and seniors use various defense mechanisms to counteract loss of balance. One of the hypotheses is the change in the coordination of antagonistic muscle groups, especially within the ankles. In this study, we tried to determine if there is a relationship between the condition from resilient, to pre-frail, to frail and the ability to maintain balance during free standing and balance tasks. The aim of the study was to define the importance of muscle activity in the ankle joint, dorsal flexor of the foot for the following: tibialis anterior (TA), plantar flexor of the foot gastrocnemius medialis (GM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and peroneus longus (PER), during balance tasks with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC). We hypothesized that there are differences in the activity and co-activation of the tested muscles in young and older women, which may indicate an increased risk of falls and walking disorders. Materials and methods: A group of 20 women qualified for the study. The group was divided into two subgroups, young (G1) and elderly women (G2). The aim of the study was to define the importance of muscle activity in the ankle joint, dorsal flexor of the foot for the following: tibialis anterior (TA), plantar flexor of the foot gastrocnemius medialis (GM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and peroneus longus (PER), during balance tasks with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC). Results: In this study, we observed significant differences between groups in the maximum and mean values of electromyography activity (EMG) activation of the examined muscles on different types of surfaces and with open and closed eyes. Older women generated higher values of EMG activation in all muscles except the gastrocnemius medialis muscle. The results were significant for co-activation at rest for muscles as follows: tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis with eyes closed ( p = 0.01) and peroneus and gastrocnemius lateralis at rest with eyes open ( p = 0.03), eyes closed ( p = 0.04), and on a foam ( p = 0.02). The sEMG amplitude of the tested muscles means that agonist muscle activity changed relative to antagonistic muscle activity. Conclusions: Activation of sEMG and coordination of ankle muscles during balance tasks change with age. It can be hypothesized that assessment of balance during free standing and equivalent tasks can predict the state of frailty, after taking into account other physiological variables that are believed to affect balance control.

Suggested Citation

  • Monika Błaszczyszyn & Agnieszka Szczęsna & Katarzyna Piechota, 2019. "sEMG Activation of the Flexor Muscles in the Foot during Balance Tasks by Young and Older Women: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-10, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:22:p:4307-:d:283952
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Monika Błaszczyszyn & Mariusz Konieczny & Paweł Pakosz, 2019. "Analysis of Ankle sEMG on Both Stable and Unstable Surfaces for Elderly and Young Women—A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-12, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ai-Min Liu & I-Hua Chu & Hwai-Ting Lin & Jing-Min Liang & Hsiu-Tao Hsu & Wen-Lan Wu, 2021. "Training Benefits and Injury Risks of Standing Yoga Applied in Musculoskeletal Problems: Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Jaehyun Jung & Kewwan Kim & Sungjae Choi & Gwangyu Song & Young Ryu & Cholhee Kim & Chaegil Lim, 2021. "Movement Time of Lower Trunk Muscles during Dynamic Postural Control in Response to a Sudden Visual Stimulus during Walking: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-8, May.
    3. Agnieszka Nawrat-Szołtysik & Zuzanna Miodońska & Ryszard Zarzeczny & Izabela Zając-Gawlak & Józef Opara & Alicja Grzesińska & Beata Matyja & Anna Polak, 2020. "Osteoporosis in Polish Older Women: Risk Factors and Osteoporotic Fractures: A Cross–Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-9, May.

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