Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes01:28

Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes

5.1K
The human leg comprises an intricate system of muscles that facilitate the movement of feet and toes. Within this system, the muscles are categorized into the anterior, lateral, and posterior compartments, each with a unique set of muscles carrying out specific functions.
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment includes muscles that contribute to the dorsiflexion of the foot. This compartment houses the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles....
5.1K
Muscles that Move the Leg01:23

Muscles that Move the Leg

6.9K
The movement of the legs is facilitated by numerous muscles located within the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments of the thigh.
Anterior Compartment
The quadriceps femoris, the most visible muscle of the anterior compartment, is integral for leg extension and thigh flexion. It is formed by merging four distinct muscles — the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon, a shared tendon of the four quadriceps muscles, is affixed...
6.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A 6-week coordinative motor training program improves spatial ability performances in healthy children.

Frontiers in cognition·2026
Same author

Effects of restricted compared to free arms motion during standing and walking at height in healthy adolescents.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Acceptance, needs and demands of e-mental health interventions in adolescent elite athletes.

Discover mental health·2026
Same author

Impact of height-induced postural threat and arm movement strategies while performing a semi-static balance task: Comparison of postural control and emotional state outcomes between children and young adults.

Gait & posture·2026
Same author

The relationship between exposure to long-term training, neuromuscular function and muscular structure in adolescents with cerebral palsy and typically-developed peers: a cross-sectional follow-up analysis.

BMC musculoskeletal disorders·2026
Same author

Influence of Different Arm Movement Strategies on Subjective Task-Related Perceptions and Walking Outcomes Under Single- and Dual-Task Conditions in Healthy Children Compared to Young Adults.

Brain sciences·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study
08:40

Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study

Published on: November 11, 2022

1.1K

One-leg standing performance and muscle activity: are there limb differences?

Thomas Muehlbauer1, Claude Mettler, Ralf Roth

  • 1Department of Training and Movement Sciences, Cluster of Excellency in Cognition Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.

Journal of Applied Biomechanics
|March 11, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Healthy young adults exhibit similar static balance performance and muscle activity between dominant and nondominant legs during one-leg standing tasks. Sensory challenges impact balance and muscle engagement, but leg dominance is not a significant factor.

More Related Videos

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
07:30

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Published on: May 1, 2018

14.8K
Standing Neurophysiological Assessment of Lower Extremity Muscles Post-Stroke
08:23

Standing Neurophysiological Assessment of Lower Extremity Muscles Post-Stroke

Published on: July 26, 2021

2.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 2, 2026

Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study
08:40

Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study

Published on: November 11, 2022

1.1K
Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
07:30

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Published on: May 1, 2018

14.8K
Standing Neurophysiological Assessment of Lower Extremity Muscles Post-Stroke
08:23

Standing Neurophysiological Assessment of Lower Extremity Muscles Post-Stroke

Published on: July 26, 2021

2.2K

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Motor Control
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Static balance is crucial for daily activities and athletic performance.
  • Understanding the influence of sensory input and limb dominance on balance is vital for injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare static balance performance and lower leg muscle activity during one-leg standing.
  • To investigate the effects of varying sensory conditions and task difficulty on balance.
  • To determine if limb dominance (dominant vs. nondominant leg) affects balance and muscle response.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty healthy young adults performed 30-second one-leg standing tests.
  • Sensory conditions included eyes open/firm ground, eyes open/foam ground, and eyes closed/firm ground.
  • Center of pressure displacements and electromyography of four lower leg muscles (tibialis anterior, soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, peroneus longus) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Increased sensory task difficulty significantly worsened balance performance and increased muscle activity (except for gastrocnemius medialis and peroneus longus).
  • No statistically significant differences in balance or muscle activity were found between the dominant and nondominant legs across all sensory conditions.
  • Effect sizes for limb dominance comparisons were small, indicating minimal practical differences.

Conclusions:

  • Sensory conditions significantly impact static balance and muscle recruitment during one-leg standing.
  • Limb dominance does not appear to be a critical factor in static one-leg balance performance or associated muscle activity in healthy young adults.
  • Findings suggest that the dominant and nondominant legs can be used interchangeably for static one-leg balance assessments in this population.