Abstract
[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between weight bearing and the activities of the ankle dorsiflexors in order to devise a new assessment method for ankle dorsiflexor muscles. [Subjects] The subjects were 21 healthy adults: average age, 21 ± 3. [Method] For muscle activity measurements, we chose the right tibialis anterior muscle. The subjects adopted a standing pose leaning against a wall, and performed ankle dorsiflexion through the full range of motion with the right lower limb bearing weight. We measured the muscle activities at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% body weight load, and investigated and compared them with multiple comparisons and Friedman's test between each weight-bearing condition. [Results] Significant differences in muscle activity were found among the different weight-bearing conditions. [Conclusion] The results suggest the possibility of an ankle dorsiflexor assessment which uses weight bearing in muscle strengths above MMT Fair.
