Electromyographic activity of selective lower extremity muscles comparison between ankle-foot orthosis and barefoot gait

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an ankle-foot orthotic on lower limb neuromuscular activity during walking. Twenty-two participants were recruited. The muscle activity of six muscles of both legs was recorded: the Vastus Medialis (VM), the Tibialis Anterior (TA), the Biceps Femoris (BF), the Semitendinosus (ST), the Gastrocnemius Medial (GM) and the Vastus Lateralis (VL) via surface electrodes during gait. Two experimental conditions were assessed: (i) barefoot, (ii) an ankle-foot orthotic (AFO). Results presented significant differences for the peak amplitude and the time of peak amplitude for LST, LGM, LVL, and RVM when comparing the two experimental conditions (p < 0.05). Significant differences were found between the barefoot and orthotic conditions and with relatively minor effect for RBF, RST, and RGM. We discuss how these differences are most probably related with the knee-ankle-foot orthotics, the shape of the orthotics and weight of the orthotics. Future study is needed to evaluate differences between these conditions when participants walk or run for longer distances.