Surface compared to fine-wire electromyography activity of lower leg muscles at different walking speeds

Surface and fine-wire electromyography activity of flexor hallucis longus, soleus, medial and lateral gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles was measured simultaneously during walking at four different speeds to examine whether signals recorded with the two methods exhibit similar signal characteristics. We found statistical differences between methods at all walking speeds in soleus and tibialis anterior, at all speeds except fast walking in flexor hallucis longus, and at faster speeds in lateral gastrocnemius. No differences were found in medial gastrocnemius at any speed or in lateral gastrocnemius at slow and preferred speed walking.