Analysis of Muscle Activity Patterns between Two Different Walking Exercise Programs-Qualitative Analysis of Walking Exercise for the Amputee

Abstract

While many studies have investigated muscle activity in amputated legs while walking, in physical therapy and other fields, few studies have examined muscle activity in the healthy legs of amputees. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, no previous investigations have examined the motor learning processes in leg amputees or efficient exercise programs for walking with a leg prosthesis. Our previous study clarified the function of the non-amputated legs of amputees while walking with a prosthetic leg by measuring muscle activity patterns using surface electromyography and ground reaction force plates. In the present study, healthy volunteers were asked to wear a pseudo-prosthetic leg and participate in either a basic or applied exercise program using clearly different exercises. Differences in muscle activity patterns between the programs were then analyzed. After 2 weeks of exercises, the exercise program allowing legs without a pseudo-prosthesis to function more like the non-amputated legs of amputees who were skilled at walking with their prosthesis was ascertained. Muscle activity patterns of volunteers on the applied exercise program tended to more closely resemble those of amputees.