Relationship between muscle activation and ankle motino in an ankle foot orthosis-footwear combination

The purpose of this investigation was to examine a relationship between constraint of motion and motor output, in that use of an ipsilateral ankle foot orthosis-footwear combination maximizing constraint of ipsilateral ankle motion will minimize muscle activation. Our findings support a relationship between Soleus muscle activation and ankle motion. Maximal orthotic constraint of ipsilateral ankle motion elicits modest immediate decrease below baseline, followed by continued gradual decline in ipsilateral Soleus muscle, whereas contralateral Soleus muscle elicits modest immediate increase above baseline followed by continued gradual decline and return to baseline.