Lower extremity electromyography while walking in the alterg at different bodyweight support

Obesity leads to a plethora of health risks and in addition, the excess adipose tissue in obese individuals negatively affects skeletal muscle by altering biomechanics and muscle activation patterns. This study was an exploratory study used to determine if muscle activity and lower extremity joint kinematics could be examined simultaneously in the AlterG treadmill. EMG data of the semitendinosus (ST), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), and the gastrocnemius (GA) were collected while walking in the AlterG treadmill at 100% and 50% body weight (BW) support. Muscle activation of the GA was significantly less in the 50% BW support condition compared to walking at 100% BW support. Although, mean muscle activity is relatively unchanged between 100% and 50% BW support it may still be that the positive pressure from the AlterG is beneficial to help increase functional activities of daily living in an obese population.