《Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice》 ›› 2023, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 731-737.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2023.06.016

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Surface electromyography of lower limb muscles in healthy middle-aged and old women during stair ascent and descent

LI Dan1, WANG Jianxiong1,2, HUANG Maomao1, XU Fangyuan1, ZENG Qiu1, LI Jiyang1, LI Yang1, XIA Cuihong1, ZHENG Yadan1, XU Zhangyu1, FANG Wenfeng1, WAN Tenggang1()   

  1. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
    2. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
  • Received:2023-03-01 Revised:2023-04-28 Published:2023-06-25 Online:2023-07-14
  • Contact: E-mail: 350303280@qq.com
  • Supported by:
    Sichuan Department of Science and Technology(2023YFS0210);Sichuan Health Commission Scientific Research Project(2021-1505);Southwest Medical University Young Scientific and Technological Talents Training Program(00160273);Southwest Medical University Natural Science Project for Youth(2022QN120)

Abstract:

Objective To observe the lower limb muscle activation strategy of healthy middle-aged and old women during stair ascent and descent with surface electromyography.
Methods From August, 2021 to February, 2022, 20 healthy middle-aged and old women were measured the surface electromyography root mean square (RMS) and integrated electromyography (iEMG) of bilateral vastus lateral, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus during stair ascent and descent, and co-contraction ratio was calculated.
Results During stair ascent, the RMS of bilateral vastus lateral, rectus femoris and vastus medialis was higher at starting stage than at following stage (|t| > 6.650, P < 0.001), while the RMS of biceps femoris and semitendinosus was lower (t > 3.559, P < 0.01); and the co-contraction ratio of hamstrings/quadriceps was lower at starting stage than at following stage (t > 8.185, P < 0.001). During stair descent, the RMS of bilateral vastus lateral, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus was higher at following stage than at starting stage (t > 2.345, P < 0.05), as well as the co-contraction ratio of hamstrings/quadriceps (t > 2.405, P < 0.05).
Conclusion The activities of the muscles around the knees are almost symmetrical during stair ascent and descent for healthy middle-aged and old women. The activation and co-contraction ratio of quadriceps and hamstring are various at starting/following stages.

Key words: stair climbing, quadriceps, hamstring, surface electromyography

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