13.09.2016 Montgomery et al. 2016
TIBIAL IMPACTS AND MUSCLE ACTIVATION DURING WALKING,
JOGGING AND RUNNING WHEN PERFORMED OVERGROUND, AND ON
MOTORISED AND NON-MOTORISED TREADMILLS
G. Montgomery; G. Abt; C. Dobson; T. Smith; M. Ditroilo
Gait & Posture 49 (2016)
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To examine tibial acceleration and muscle activation during overground (OG), motorised
treadmill (MT) and non-motorised treadmill conditions (NMT) when walking, jogging and running at
matched velocities.
Methods: An accelerometer recorded acceleration at the mid-tibia and surface EMG electrodes recorded
rectus femoris (RF), semitendinosus (ST), tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SL) muscle activation during
OG, MT and NMT locomotion whilst walking, jogging and running.
Results: The NMT produced large reductions in tibial acceleration when compared with OG and MT
conditions across walking, jogging and running conditions. RF EMG was small-moderately higher in the
NMT condition when compared with the OG and MT conditions across walking, jogging and running
conditions. ST EMG showed large and very large increases in the NMT when compared to OG and MT
conditions during walking whilst SL EMG found large increases on the NMT when compared to OG and
MT conditions during running. The NMT condition generated very large increases in step frequency when
compared to OG and MT conditions during walking, with large and very large decreases during jogging
and very large decreases during running.
Conclusions: The NMT generates large reductions in tibial acceleration, moderate to very large increases in
muscular activation and large to very large decreases in cycle time when compared to OG and MT
locomotion. Whilst this may decrease the osteogenic potential of NMT locomotion, there may be uses for
NMTs during rehabilitation for lower limb injuries.