Effects of ankle stabilizers on electromyographic activities of lower extremity muscles during simulated half-squat parachute landing / 医用生物力学

ABSTRACT

Objective To study effects of ankle stabilizer on electromyographic activities of lower extremity muscles during the simulated half squat parachute landing and its gender differences. Method Eight male and eight female healthy adults were required to jump from a platform of 0.72 m high to simulate half squat parachute landing. The experiment was divided into 3 groups the barefoot one as control group, the group wearing tapes and braces respectively. The electromyogram (EMG) of each subject’s tibial anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, biceps femoralis and rectus femoralis was measured. Two way ANOVA was used to analyze and evaluate the effect of the stabilizers and genders on EMG variables. Results The use of brace significantly increased the pre landing EMG amplitude of the tibialis anterior for male (Control 266 μV; Tape 368 μV; Brace 552 μV). The stabilizers had no significant effects on the other EMG parameters. Conclusions Semi rigid ankle braces are capable of arousing more active EMG of male’s ankle flexor during half squat parachute landing, but female does not share this predominance. Ankle stabilizers have no significant effects on EMG activities for knee joints.