Abstract
Previously we found that walking on a non-motorized treadmill (NMT) elicited greater EMG activity from plantar flexor muscles compared to walking overground (OG) and on a motorized treadmill (MT) in adults younger than 25 years of age. PURPOSE: To compare muscle activation patterns of lower extremity muscles between MT, NMT and overground (OG) walking in younger and older. METHODS: Twelve healthy older adults (55.4±4.1 yrs, 167.8±9.0 cm, 73.1±13.1 kg ) and 23 healthy younger adults (27.9±8.4 yrs, 169.9±8.4 cm, 72.9±16.5kg) completed separate walking trials for OG, MT and NMT modes at the preferred NMT speed. For EMG normalization participants also completed one OG trial at a preferred speed. Surface EMG of the Biceps Femoris (BF), Tibialis Anterior (TA), Gastrocnemius (GA), and Vastus Medialis (VM) was collected at 1000 Hz using electrodes placed longitudinally at the midpoint of the muscle belly. EMG RMS was computed using a moving window of 125 ms. Peak RMS within a stride was averaged across 2 consecutive gait cycles on OG trials and 8 consecutive gait cycles for treadmill trials. EMG data were normalized to the average peak RMS values recorded during the OG trials performed at the preferred OG speed to permit comparison between age groups. A 2x2 (Age by Walking Mode) mixed model ANOVA was used to compare preferred walking speed in the OG and NMT modes. Separate 2x3 (Age x Walking Mode) mixed model ANOVA’s were used for each muscle to compare normalized peak RMS EMG values between walking modes and age groups. RESULTS: A significant interaction of age and walking mode indicated younger adults self-selected similar speeds in the OG and NMT modes (p>0.05) but older adults chose a speed 12% slower on the NMT than OG (P0.05). GA activity was 30% higher (p0.05) between age and walking mode and no main effect (p>0.05) for walking mode was found for VM activity. Younger adults produced 49% more VM activity than older adults across all three walking modes (p0.05). CONCLUSION: GA activity specifically was 30% higher in both age groups on NMT supporting our previous work suggesting that use of NMT is a promising tool for targeting age-related declines in distal musculature.
Recommended Citation
Chaires, Emily L.; McCarthy, Meghan; Steele, Breanna; and McLean, Scott P.
(2025)
"Comparison of Overground, Motorized Treadmill and Non-motorized Treadmill Gait in Younger and Older Adults,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
17, Article 85.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/85
Included in
Health and Physical Education Commons, Medical Education Commons, Sports Sciences Commons
