%0 Journal Article
%T The effects of surface inclination on gastrocnemius, soleus and tibialis anterior muscle activation during gait.
%A Malik RJ
%A Waris A
%A Gilani SO
%A Iqbal J
%A Kashif AS
%A Kamboh HM
%A Ghafoor MF
%J J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil
%V 36
%N 1
%D 2023
%M 35964168
%F 1.456
%R 10.3233/BMR-210371
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Inclined walking is associated with multiple musculoskeletal benefits and is considered a therapeutic exercise. Various patterns of increased and decreased muscle activation with inclined surfaces have been observed in normal muscles, with more focus on the proximal lower limb musculature.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>The aim of this study was to assess the differences in electromyographic activation of gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior at various inclined surfaces during gait.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Fourteen healthy male participants aged between 17-30 years walked at a self-selected speed at motor driven treadmill on 0, 2 and 4 degrees of inclination. EMG activity of the muscles was recorded using the Delsys Trigno surface EMG system.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Results showed that muscular activation of tibialis anterior significantly decreased with increase in the level of inclination (p< 0.05). However, soleus, gastrocnemius medialis and gastrocnemius lateralis showed no significant differences (p> 0.05) in their muscular activation, and no noticeable trends were found. Furthermore, no significant difference was found between all the muscles at ground level and inclined level 2 and 4.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>These differences in activation patterns found in distal extremity can be useful for designing rehabilitation protocols in sports training and for patients with neurological and musculoskeletal pathologies.