Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Ph.D. Student, Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Caspian International Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Sports Injury and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: The path of the center of pressure while walking reflects the general mechanics of the body. Also, the electrical stimulation system triggers movement units, including the lower limbs. The present study investigated the effect of the electrical stimulation system on gait and balance patterns in young athletes.
Methods: This research is applied and semi-experimental. In this study, 15 male athletes were selected by convenience sampling. The present study was performed in February 1400 at Shahriar Health Club. Participants were asked to walk at a self-selected speed. In the middle of the walking path, a foot-scanning device was placed, which recorded information about the path of the center of pressure, the relative duration of the stance phases, and the forward angle in both positions with and without the muscle stimulation vest. After checking the normality of the data using the Shapiro-Wilk test, paired sample t-test was used to analyze the data.
Results: The results showed that the electrical muscle stimulation system had a favorable effect on the gait pattern of athletes compared to those without a vest. Electrical stimulation led to a slight increase in pressure center oscillations and improved displacement of pressure fluctuations (p=0.001) in the vest mode, which showed the effectiveness of this method.
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that strengthening the muscles of the lower extremities by the electrical muscle stimulation system had favorable effects on athletes' gait pattern and foot pressure fluctuations.
Keywords
- Lippert LS, Minor MAD. Laboratory Manual for Clinical Kinesiology and Anatomy: FADavis; 2017.
- Dirks ML, Wall BT, Snijders T, Ottenbros CL, Verdijk LB, Van Loon, LJ. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation prevents muscle disuse atrophy during leg immobilization in humans. Acta Physiol. 2014, 210, 628–641. )CrossRef( )PubMed.(
- Li B, Xiang Q, Zhang X. The center of pressure progression characterizes the dynamic function of high-arched feet during walking. Journal of Leather Science and Engineering. 2020; 2(1): 1-10.
- Zhang X, Li B, Hu K, Wan Q, Ding Y, Vanwanseele B. Adding an arch support to a heel lift improves stability and comfort during gait. Gait & posture. 2017; 58: 94-7.
- Dirks ML, Wall BT, Snijders, T, Ottenbros, CL, Verdijk, LB, Van Loon, LJ. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation prevents muscle disuse atrophy during leg immobilization in humans. Acta Physiol. 2014, 210, 628–641. )CrossRef( )PubMed(.
- Wu Y, Li Y, Liu A-M, Xiao F, Wang Y-Z, Hu F, et al. Effect of active arm swing to local dynamic stability during walking. Human movement science. 2016; 45: 102-9.
- Nishikawa Y, Watanabe K, Kawade S, Takahashi T, Kimura H, Maruyama H, Hyngstrom A. The effect of a portable electrical muscle stimulation device at home on muscle strength and activation patterns in locomotive syndrome patients:A randomized control trial. J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol. 2019, 45, 46–52. )CrossRef( (PubMed).
- Hyeng-Kyu Park, Seung Min Na, Se-Lin Choi, Jong-Keun Seon, and Wol-Hee Do. Physiological Effect of Exercise Training with Whole Body Electric Muscle Stimulation Suit on Strength and Balance in Young Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Chonnam Med J 2021; 57: 76-86.
- Nishikawa Y, Takahashi T, Kawade S, Maeda N, Maruyama H, Hyngstrom A. The Effect of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Muscle Mass and Balance in Older Adults with Dementia. Brain Sci. 2021, 11: 339.
- Esmaeili H, Askari Z. Effect of Trunk Muscles Fatigue on the Trajectory of Center of Pressure during Walking. Sport Medicine Studies. Fall & Winter 2021; 12 (28): 183-202. (Persian). Doi: 10.22089/SMJ. 2021. 10394. 1489 (Farsi).
- Bily W, Trimmel L, Mödlin M, Kaider A, Kern H. Training program and additional electric muscle stimulation for patellofemoral pain syndrome: a pilot study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2008; 89(7): 1230-6.
- Allet L, Armand S, Golay A, Monnin D, De Bie R, de Bruin ED. Gait characteristics of diabetic patients: a systematic review. Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews. 2008; 24(3): 173-91.
- Koblauch H, Heilskov-Hansen T, Alkjær T, Simonsen EB, Henriksen M. The effect of foot progression angle on knee joint compression force during walking. Journal of applied biomechanics. 2013; 29(3): 32935.
- Pezeshk F. The trajectory of center of pressure during stance phase of gait in healthy males and females using pedar-X system. jsmt. 2016; 14(11):1-13. (Farsi).
- Smith LK, Lelas JL, Kerrigan DC. Gender differences in pelvic motions and center of mass displacement during walking: stereotypes quantified. Journal of women’s health & gender-based medicine. 2002; 453-458.
- Yoshida T, Tanino Y and Suzuki T. Effect of exercise therapy combining electrical therapy and balance training on functional instability resulting from ankle sprain-focus on stability of jump landing. J Phys Ther Sci 2015; 27, 3069–3071.
- Bamber Z, Wheeler PC, Swain ID and Fong DTP. Effect of 8-week treadmill running with peroneal muscle functional electrical stimulation on laterally deviated centre of plantar pressure position and star excursion balance test performance, Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering Volume 8: 1–9.2021.
- Hyeng-Kyu Park, Seung Min Na, Se-Lin Choi, Jong-Keun Seon, and Wol-Hee Do. Physiological Effect of Exercise Training with Whole Body Electric Muscle Stimulation Suit on Strength and Balance in Young Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Chonnam Med J 2021; 57: 76-86.
- Morrison KE, Hudson DJ, Davis IS, Richards JG, Royer TD, Dierks TA, et al. Plantar pressure during running in subjects with chronic ankle instability. Foot & ankle international. 2010; 31(11): 994-10.