Hitherto the study on walking has been limited to its mechanical analysis by means of photography, the efficiency of energy metabolism obtained by gas analysis, and the sole pressure etc.; the action of muscles has been little studied. The author tried to research when and how the muscles work in walking.
The action current of muscle was then applied as an approach to my study ; two fine silver needles (diameter 0.2mm) chosen for electrode, were put into the muscle, the action current of which was amplified and recorded in the same way as in his previous report (This Journal Vol. 61, No. 692, 1950).
The swing and stance phases of foot were investigated by the electrical circuits through phosphor-bronze contacts attached on the sole (Fig. 2). And the changes of angles at the coxal, knee and foot joints, which result from their extension and flexion, were measured from a moving picture (Fig. 1). Shifts of the centre of gravity of body and changes of the sole pressure were cited from the study of O. FISCHER (Fig. 3). The writer tried to explain the mechanism of walking by means of these Electromyogram (E. M. G.) obtained experimentally (Fig. 5). The results are as follows:
1. Two-articulated (joint) muscle has something to do with the smoothness of movement, and is not so powerful as one-articulated one and easy to fatigue.
2: The constant shifts of the centre of gravity in walking makes the holding of posture so delicate which is cooperatively operated by the two antagonistic joint muscles, for example M. rectus femoris and biceps femoris. Also by fixing of knee is effected the extension of M. glutaeus maximus at the end of stance leg.
3. It is remarkable that M. sacrsopinalis, in the upper body, shows the stretch reflex by the reflexive contraction.
4. In the middle of stance phase we take notice of a valley in the E. M. G. This is considered to show the resting time.
5. At the end of stance phase, we find the many muscles working cooperatively and especially, the shifting of the centre of gravity is caused by a series of muscles from the pelvis on the side of stance leg to the neck on the other side and this is connected with the out-rotation of foot and the contrary swing of arm and leg.
6. At the beginning of stance phase, the muscle series consisted only of extensors, M. glut. max., rect. femo., and gastrocnemius work. On the contrary, at the beginning of swing phase we see only the flexors series, M. iliopsoas, biceps femo. and tib. ant., working.
7. Reciprocal innervation is proved in the case of one-joint muscles and not in cases of two-joint muscles.
8. The waist reflex is remarkable in all reflex postures in walking.
9. The neuromuscular unit works in very small cycles, for example, 10 or so even in M. vast.fibularis. The long continuance of walking is affected by this and reciprocal innervation and reflex.
10. Compared with cases of riding a bicycle, muscles show far more natural working in walking which is by far suitable to muscle. E. M. G. in the case of bicycle is shown in Fig. 6.
View full abstract