Volume 51 Number 1, 2014
Pages 51 — 58
Abstract — Muscle activation during body weight-supported locomotion while using the ZeroG
Alyssa M. Fenuta, HBSc; Audrey L. Hicks, PhD*
Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Abstract — The ZeroG provides dynamic body weight support (BWS) using a harness while individuals with mobility impairments (e.g., spinal cord injury) ambulate overground. Muscle activity during locomotion using this device was studied in 13 nondisabled adults (age 23.8 +/– 2.7 yr). Electromyography (EMG) recordings were collected from tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastrocnemius (MG), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris muscles during randomized walking trials at preferred speeds under five levels of BWS (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%). Filtered EMG signals from each trial were normalized to 0% BWS and correlated with gait phases. Muscle activity, averaged across muscles, decreased significantly at heel strike by 33.4% with increasing BWS. Offloading significantly decreased heel strike activity of RF (62.8%), MG (35.5%), and TA (25.9%). Gait cycle completion time increased with BWS primarily because of increased swing phase time. These results summarizing the effect of BWS on muscle activation during ambulation can now be compared with clinical populations using the ZeroG.
Key words: dynamic body weight support, electromyography, gait, locomotor training, mobility impairments, muscle activity, overground walking, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, ZeroG.
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This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows:
Fenuta AM, Hicks AL. Muscle activation during body weight-supported locomotion while using the ZeroG. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(1):51–58.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.01.0005
Fenuta AM, Hicks AL. Muscle activation during body weight-supported locomotion while using the ZeroG. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(1):51–58.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.01.0005
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Last Reviewed or Updated Tuesday, April 8, 2014 11:49 AM
