Article

Walking on both outdoor and indoor surfaces requires the ability to negotiate
connections between vertical distances, simply known as hills and stairs.
Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the muscle activity
patterns of the TFL and ADL during both hill and stair walking. We hypothesized
that TFL and ADL activity during initial swing, initial stance, and late stance
of up-ramp and up-stair walking would be greater than level walking. In contrast,
we hypothesized that both TFL and ADL activity during initial swing of down-ramp
and down-stair walking would be less. We utilized a 15 degrees ramp, a 35 degrees
stair set, and for comparison of this steep angle, we also collected data on a 33
degrees ramp. During up-ramp and up-stair walking, TFL and ADL activity during
both initial swing and late stance of the up conditions were greater than level
walking. For the down conditions, ADL activity during the swing phase of the
steep down-ramp was less. Practically, our muscle activity results demonstrate
that the hip abductors and hip adductors may provide additional pelvic stability
and supplementary thigh acceleration during ramp and stair walking.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS