Abstract
[Purpose] This study examined the differences in muscle forces of lower extremities during walking between healthy young males and females. [Subjects] Twenty healthy young males and females (10 each) participated in this study. [Methods] A 3D motion analysis system and force plates measured coordinates of markers and ground reaction forces during walking. Muscle activations of lower extremities during walking were calculated using OpenSim3.2. [Results] Average values of muscle activations during the stance phase of gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and vastus muscles in females were significantly greater than those in males. On the other hand, the maximum value of muscle activation during stance phase of soleus was significantly smaller in females than in males. [Conclusion] This results suggest that young females exhibit greater muscle activity in the uni-articular muscles of the hip and knee during walking than young males.
