A Study of Muscular Activities and Onset Times of the Tibialis Anterior and Medial Gastrocnemius Muscles of Elderly People in Climbing Stairs

Abstract

[Purpose] We examined the characteristics of lower limb muscles of the elderly in climbing stairs as a fall prevention study. [Methods] This study selected 40 elderly people aged 60 or older who could walk independently. The activity of climbing stairs was divided into four stages: standing, knee flexion, touching the stair, and ascending. Muscle activities of the lower limbs were measured by electromyography. [Results] There were significant differences in the activities of four muscles in the four stages of climbing stairs. The right leg showed significant differences in onset times of the four muscles, activities, but the left leg showed no significant differences. [Conclusion] Activity of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscles were different at each stage of climbing stairs. We also found that the tibialis anterior was activated first to prevent dragging of the right leg, and the left leg muscles worked simultaneously to provid stability.