Relationship between Load Change and Muscle Activities of Lower Limbs with Increasing Tilt-table Inclination Angle

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between load change and muscle activities of lower limb with increasing tilt-table angle. The subjects were 7 healthy adults. We measured muscle activities of lower limbs with a gradually changing tilt table angle and compared them with unilateral muscle activities of lower limbs standing-still position (Experiment 1). Furthermore, with subjects lying on the electric tilt table, we induced unilateral muscle activities with a continuous angle change from 0° to 80° (Experiment 2). From these results, the muscle activities of the rectus femoris, medial vastus, biceps femoris, semitendinosus and tibialis anterior muscles did not show any changes despite the increase of tilt table angle and the activities were less than in the standing-still position. However, there was a strong correlation between load change and muscle activities in the soleus muscle. The lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and medial head of the gastrocnemius muscles showed different activities to the soleus muscle. We discussed the usefulness of lower limb load in a standing position on the tilt table and the kinetics of functional differences on the triceps surae muscle.