Muscle activation pattern during self-propelled treadmill walking.
Britt Kostraba, Yi-Ning Wu, Pei-Chun Kao and 3 others
PMID 30154602WHAT IT FOUND
Healthy young adults walking on a short, inclined self-propelled treadmill took shorter steps and showed greater activity in some knee and hip muscles at heel-strike than over-ground walking.
Preferred treadmill speed was slower.
Key findings
01Preferred speed was slower on the self-propelled treadmill than over-ground walking.
02Step lengths were shorter on the self-propelled treadmill than over-ground walking.
03At heel-strike, rectus femoris and biceps femoris activity was higher on treadmill walking than over-ground walking.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 11 healthy college students were tested, so the findings do not describe patients, people with balance problems, or people using a treadmill for rehabilitation. The treadmill surface was short, about 1.05 m, and the participants held handrails for safety, both of which could have changed step length and muscle activity. The study measured muscle activity and step length in one session; it did not test whether using this treadmill improves walking, strength, endurance, or safety. Speeds differed between conditions, so muscle activation differences may reflect walking speed, belt length, incline, or handrail use rather than the treadmill type alone.
Declared interests
The study was supported by a University of Massachusetts Lowell internal seed grant, and the authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that a self-propelled treadmill trains specific muscles better than over-ground walking. The study measured healthy young adults on a short inclined belt while holding handrails, and it did not test patients or rehabilitation outcomes.