1- Student Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Exercise Physiology Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Abstract: (39 Views)
Background: Evaluating muscle activation patterns such as co-contraction and frequency content can help clinicians assess neuromuscular changes during gait rehabilitation in people with pronated feet. This research examined the impact of double-density insoles on muscular co-activation and the frequency characteristics during gait in individuals with flat feet, in comparison to those with a neutral foot alignment.
Methods: Twenty males with pronated feet and 20 controls with normal feet participated. Muscle activity was recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG) at 1000 Hz while participants walked over an 18-meter walkway with and without foot orthoses. Co-contraction was calculated as 1 – (antagonist mean sEMG / agonist mean sEMG). Muscular frequency content was analysed at stance sub-phase.
Findings: Group-by-condition interaction was significant for knee flexor/extensor co-contraction at mid-stance, with post-hoc analysis showing increased co-contraction in the normal foot group when using orthoses. Interactions were significant for tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and gluteus medius at propulsion. Post-hoc tests revealed increased activity in these muscles in foot group when wearing orthoses.
Conclusion: Foot orthoses did not change knee flexor/extensor co-contraction in the pronated feet group during the mid-stance. Foot orthoses improved muscular frequency content in the pronated feet group while walking.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Sport Pathology and Corrective Movements Received: 2024/11/18 | Accepted: 2025/07/13