Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation

Theodoros Roussos; Athanasia Smirniotou; Anastasios Philippou; Antonis Galanos; Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14

| Peer-Reviewed

Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation

Theodoros Roussos, Athanasia Smirniotou, Anastasios Philippou, Antonis Galanos, Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos

Published in American Journal of Sports Science (Volume 7, Issue 1)

Received: 23 February 2019 Accepted: 30 March 2019 Published: 18 April 2019

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess whether the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lower limb muscles - rectus femoris, vastus medialis, bicep femoris and gastrocnemius - during running is affected by different running environments and varied slope gradients. Data collected from this study would be useful for specific training programs adopted from different style runners. Ten male recreational runners participated in the current study. Each of the ten participants, was assessed in two different running conditions, treadmill running and over-ground running, which was consisted of a 20m distance running at a velocity of 11±1km/h at each of the following slope gradients -8%, -4%, 0%, 4%, 8% - in a randomized order. Findings revealed that when over-ground running EMG activity of the lower limb muscles was 16.54% higher compared to treadmill running. Treadmill running is characterized by reduced metabolic cost, which is related to lower muscle activation requirements. Varied slope gradients found to affect muscle activation. During uphill running, lower limb muscle activation was significantly higher compared to level and downhill running, independently of running environment. However, running at negative slope gradients was associated with significantly greater muscle activation compared to level running, only on the treadmill condition.

Published in	American Journal of Sports Science (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14
Page(s)	20-25
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Electromyographic Activity, Overground Running, Treadmill Running, Slope Gradient

References

[1]	Lussiana T, Fabre N, Hebert-Losier K, et al. Effect of slope and footwear on running economy and kinematics. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2013; 23: 246-253.
[2]	Farley CT, Houdijk HP, Van Strien C, et al. Mechanism of leg stiffness adjustment for hoping on surfaces of different stiffness. J Appl Physiol 1998; 85: 1044-1055.
[3]	Lussiana T, Hebert-Losier K, Mourot L. Effect of minimal shoes and slope on vertical and leg stiffness during running. J Sport Health Sci 2015; 4: 195-202.
[4]	Garcia-Pinillos F, Latorre-Roman PA, Ramirez-Campillo R, et al. How does the slope gradient affect spatiotemporal parameters during running? Influence of athletic level and vertical and leg stifness. Gait Posture 2018; 68: 72-77.
[5]	Gottschall JS, Kram R. Ground reaction forces during downhill and uphill running. J Biomech 2005; 38: 445-452.
[6]	Telhan G, Franz JR, Dicharry J, et al. Lower limb joint kinetics during moderately sloped running. J Athl Train 2010; 45: 16-21.
[7]	Swanson SC, Caldwell GE. An integration biomechanical analysis of high speed incline and level treadmill running. Med Sci Sport Exerc 2000; 32: 1146-1155.
[8]	Roberts TJ, Belliveau RA. Sources of mechanical power for uphill running in humans. J Exp Biol 2005; 208: 1963-1970.
[9]	Yokozawa T, Fujii N, Ae M. Muscle activities of the lower limb during level and uphill running. J Biomech 2007; 40: 3467-3475.
[10]	Ahn AN, Brayton C, Bhatia T, et al. Muscle activity and kinematics of forefoot and rearfoot strike runners. J Sport Health Sci 2014; 3: 102-112.
[11]	Giandolini M, Arnal PJ, Millet GY, et al. Impact reduction during running: efficiency of simple acute interventions in recreational runners. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013; 113: 599-609.
[12]	Yong JR, Silder A, Delp SL. Differences in muscle activity between natural forefoot and rearfoot strikers during running. J Biomech 2014; 47: 3593-3597.
[13]	Shih Y, Lin KL, Shiang TY. Is the foot striking pattern more important than barefoot or shod conditions in running? Gait Posture 2013; 38: 490-494.
[14]	Warne JP, Warrington GD. Four-week habituation to simulated barefoot running improves running economy when compared with shod running. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2012; 24: 563-568.
[15]	Morin JB, Seve P. Sprint running performance: comparison between treadmill and field conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 1695-1703.
[16]	Riley PO, Dicharry J, Franz J, et al. A kinematic and kinetic comparison of over-ground and treadmill running. Med Sci Sport Exerc 2008; 40:1093-1100.
[17]	Wank V, Frick U, Schmidtbleicher, D. Kinematics and electromyography of lower limb muscles in over-ground and treadmill running. Int J Sports Med 1998; 19: 455-461.
[18]	Nigg BM, DeBoer RW, Fischer V. A kinematic comparison of over-ground and treadmill running. Med Sci Sport Exerc 1995; 27: 98-105.
[19]	Grabowski AM. Metabolic and biomechanical effects of velocity and weight support using a lower body positive – pressure device during walking. Arch Phys Med Rehab 2010; 91: 951-957.
[20]	Grabowski AM, Kram R. Effects of velocity and weight support on ground reaction forces and metabolic power during running. J Appl Biomech 2008; 24: 288-297.
[21]	Hunter I, Seeley MK, Hopkins JT, et al. EMG activity during positive – pressure treadmill running. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2014; 24: 348-352.
[22]	Gregor RJ, Costill DL. A comparison of the energy expenditure during positive and negative grade running. J Sports Med 1973; 13: 248-252.
[23]	Pivarnik JM, Sherman NW. Responses of aerobically fit men and women to uphill / downhill walking and slow jogging. Med Sci Sport Exerc 1990; 22: 127-130.
[24]	Staab JS, Agnew JW, Siconolfi SF. Metabolic and performance responses to uphill and downhill running in distance runners. Med Sci Sport Exerc 1992; 24: 124-127.
[25]	Sloniger MA, Cureton KJ, Prior BM, et al. Anaerobic capacity and muscle activation during horizontal and uphill running. J Appl Physiol 1997a; 83: 262-269.
[26]	Sloniger MA, Cureton KJ, Prior BM, et al. Lower extremity muscle activation during horizontal and uphill running. J Appl Physiol 1997b; 83: 2073-2079.
[27]	Padulo J, Annino G, Migliaccio GM, et al. Kinematics of running at different slopes and speeds. J Strength Cond Res 2012; 26: 1331-1339.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Theodoros Roussos, Athanasia Smirniotou, Anastasios Philippou, Antonis Galanos, Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos. (2019). Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation. American Journal of Sports Science, 7(1), 20-25. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Theodoros Roussos; Athanasia Smirniotou; Anastasios Philippou; Antonis Galanos; Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos. Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation. Am. J. Sports Sci. 2019, 7(1), 20-25. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Theodoros Roussos, Athanasia Smirniotou, Anastasios Philippou, Antonis Galanos, Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos. Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation. Am J Sports Sci. 2019;7(1):20-25. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14,
  author = {Theodoros Roussos and Athanasia Smirniotou and Anastasios Philippou and Antonis Galanos and Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos},
  title = {Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation},
  journal = {American Journal of Sports Science},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {20-25},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajss.20190701.14},
  abstract = {The purpose of this study was to assess whether the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lower limb muscles - rectus femoris, vastus medialis, bicep femoris and gastrocnemius - during running is affected by different running environments and varied slope gradients. Data collected from this study would be useful for specific training programs adopted from different style runners. Ten male recreational runners participated in the current study. Each of the ten participants, was assessed in two different running conditions, treadmill running and over-ground running, which was consisted of a 20m distance running at a velocity of 11±1km/h at each of the following slope gradients -8%, -4%, 0%, 4%, 8% - in a randomized order. Findings revealed that when over-ground running EMG activity of the lower limb muscles was 16.54% higher compared to treadmill running. Treadmill running is characterized by reduced metabolic cost, which is related to lower muscle activation requirements. Varied slope gradients found to affect muscle activation. During uphill running, lower limb muscle activation was significantly higher compared to level and downhill running, independently of running environment. However, running at negative slope gradients was associated with significantly greater muscle activation compared to level running, only on the treadmill condition.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation
AU  - Theodoros Roussos
AU  - Athanasia Smirniotou
AU  - Anastasios Philippou
AU  - Antonis Galanos
AU  - Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos
Y1  - 2019/04/18
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14
T2  - American Journal of Sports Science
JF  - American Journal of Sports Science
JO  - American Journal of Sports Science
SP  - 20
EP  - 25
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8540
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14
AB  - The purpose of this study was to assess whether the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lower limb muscles - rectus femoris, vastus medialis, bicep femoris and gastrocnemius - during running is affected by different running environments and varied slope gradients. Data collected from this study would be useful for specific training programs adopted from different style runners. Ten male recreational runners participated in the current study. Each of the ten participants, was assessed in two different running conditions, treadmill running and over-ground running, which was consisted of a 20m distance running at a velocity of 11±1km/h at each of the following slope gradients -8%, -4%, 0%, 4%, 8% - in a randomized order. Findings revealed that when over-ground running EMG activity of the lower limb muscles was 16.54% higher compared to treadmill running. Treadmill running is characterized by reduced metabolic cost, which is related to lower muscle activation requirements. Varied slope gradients found to affect muscle activation. During uphill running, lower limb muscle activation was significantly higher compared to level and downhill running, independently of running environment. However, running at negative slope gradients was associated with significantly greater muscle activation compared to level running, only on the treadmill condition.
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Theodoros Roussos

Laboratory for the Research of Musculoskeletal System, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Athanasia Smirniotou

School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Anastasios Philippou

Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Antonis Galanos

Laboratory for the Research of Musculoskeletal System, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos

Laboratory for the Research of Musculoskeletal System, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Theodoros Roussos, Athanasia Smirniotou, Anastasios Philippou, Antonis Galanos, Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos. (2019). Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation. American Journal of Sports Science, 7(1), 20-25. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Theodoros Roussos; Athanasia Smirniotou; Anastasios Philippou; Antonis Galanos; Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos. Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation. Am. J. Sports Sci. 2019, 7(1), 20-25. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Theodoros Roussos, Athanasia Smirniotou, Anastasios Philippou, Antonis Galanos, Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos. Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation. Am J Sports Sci. 2019;7(1):20-25. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14,
  author = {Theodoros Roussos and Athanasia Smirniotou and Anastasios Philippou and Antonis Galanos and Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos},
  title = {Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation},
  journal = {American Journal of Sports Science},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {20-25},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajss.20190701.14},
  abstract = {The purpose of this study was to assess whether the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lower limb muscles - rectus femoris, vastus medialis, bicep femoris and gastrocnemius - during running is affected by different running environments and varied slope gradients. Data collected from this study would be useful for specific training programs adopted from different style runners. Ten male recreational runners participated in the current study. Each of the ten participants, was assessed in two different running conditions, treadmill running and over-ground running, which was consisted of a 20m distance running at a velocity of 11±1km/h at each of the following slope gradients -8%, -4%, 0%, 4%, 8% - in a randomized order. Findings revealed that when over-ground running EMG activity of the lower limb muscles was 16.54% higher compared to treadmill running. Treadmill running is characterized by reduced metabolic cost, which is related to lower muscle activation requirements. Varied slope gradients found to affect muscle activation. During uphill running, lower limb muscle activation was significantly higher compared to level and downhill running, independently of running environment. However, running at negative slope gradients was associated with significantly greater muscle activation compared to level running, only on the treadmill condition.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effect of Running Environment and Slope Gradient on Lower Limb Muscle Activation
AU  - Theodoros Roussos
AU  - Athanasia Smirniotou
AU  - Anastasios Philippou
AU  - Antonis Galanos
AU  - Ioannis Triantafyllopoulos
Y1  - 2019/04/18
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14
T2  - American Journal of Sports Science
JF  - American Journal of Sports Science
JO  - American Journal of Sports Science
SP  - 20
EP  - 25
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8540
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20190701.14
AB  - The purpose of this study was to assess whether the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lower limb muscles - rectus femoris, vastus medialis, bicep femoris and gastrocnemius - during running is affected by different running environments and varied slope gradients. Data collected from this study would be useful for specific training programs adopted from different style runners. Ten male recreational runners participated in the current study. Each of the ten participants, was assessed in two different running conditions, treadmill running and over-ground running, which was consisted of a 20m distance running at a velocity of 11±1km/h at each of the following slope gradients -8%, -4%, 0%, 4%, 8% - in a randomized order. Findings revealed that when over-ground running EMG activity of the lower limb muscles was 16.54% higher compared to treadmill running. Treadmill running is characterized by reduced metabolic cost, which is related to lower muscle activation requirements. Varied slope gradients found to affect muscle activation. During uphill running, lower limb muscle activation was significantly higher compared to level and downhill running, independently of running environment. However, running at negative slope gradients was associated with significantly greater muscle activation compared to level running, only on the treadmill condition.
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download