Muscle activities of the lower limb during level and uphill running

概要

論文の詳細を見る
This study aimed to compare the muscle activities of the lower limb during overground level running (LR) and uphill running(UR) by using a musculoskeletal model. Six male distance runners ran at three running speeds (slow: 3.3 m/s; medium: 4.2 m/s; and high:5.0 m/s) on a level runway and a slope of 9.1% grade in which force platforms were mounted. A musculoskeletal leg model andoptimization were used to estimate the muscle activation and muscle torque from the joint torque of the lower limb calculated by theinverse dynamics approach. At high speed, the activation and muscle torque of the muscle groups surrounding the hip joints, such asthe hamstrings and iliopsoas, during the recovery phase were significantly greater during UR than during LR. At all the runningspeeds, the knee extension torque by the vasti during the support phase was significantly smaller during UR. Further, the hip flexion andknee extension torques by the rectus femoris during UR were significantly greater than those during LR at all the speeds; this would playa role in compensating for the decrease in the knee extension torque by the vasti and in maintaining the trunk in a forward-leaningposition. These results revealed that the activation and muscle torque of the hip extensors and flexors were augmented during UR atthe high speed.