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Improved hemiparetic muscle activation in treadmill versus overground walking
Michelle L Harris-Love1, Richard F Macko, Jill Whitall
1School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland-Baltimore, 100 Penn Street, Rm. 115, 21201, USA.
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
|September 18, 2004
Summary
Treadmill walking alters vastus lateralis muscle activation in stroke survivors, promoting more symmetrical gait. These immediate changes in muscle activity during treadmill use contrast with overground walking.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation science
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Treadmill training is a key intervention for gait retraining post-stroke.
- Treadmills can improve gait symmetry and paretic limb function through altered muscle activation or passive belt-driven mechanics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare vastus lateralis and medial hamstrings muscle activation during treadmill versus overground walking in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke.
Main Methods:
- Surface electromyography (EMG) of vastus lateralis and medial hamstrings was recorded in 19 participants during matched-speed overground and treadmill walking.
- Key EMG variables analyzed included burst onset, offset, duration, and integrated amplitude relative to gait cycle and foot strike.
Main Results:
- Paretic vastus lateralis onset occurred earlier during treadmill walking (P=0.01).
- Nonparetic vastus lateralis showed later onset (P=0.09), earlier offset (P=0.03), shorter duration (P=0.01), and lower integrated amplitude (P=0.05) on the treadmill.
- Muscle activation timing relative to foot strike differed between conditions for both paretic and nonparetic limbs.
Conclusions:
- Treadmill walking significantly alters vastus lateralis activation patterns immediately, but not medial hamstrings.
- Observed changes in vastus lateralis activation during treadmill use correlate with enhanced gait symmetry post-stroke.