How fiber dynamics of plantarflexor and dorsiflexor muscles based on EMG-driven approach can explain the metabolic cost at different gait speeds.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the fiber dynamics of plantarflexor and dorsiflexor muscles and their association with the net metabolic rate (NCw). Metabolic, kinematic, kinetic, and electromyography measurements were made on seven young subjects while they walked on a force-plate instrumented treadmill at 1.00, 1.20, 1.40, 1.60, and 1.8m/s for 1:30 min. The net metabolic rate was computed, and a one degree-of freedom EMG-driven approach was used to extract the force generation ability (Fability), and active force-length (fAL) and force-velocity (fV) multiplier of each muscle. A one-way (speeds) repeated measures ANOVA was performed for each muscle and a multiple linear regression model was used to explain NCw. Fability was significantly affected by gait speed for the GasMed and the SOL muscles. The decrease of Fability for the SOL and the GasMed was accompanied by a decrease in the force-velocity multiplier. The peak muscle force for the SOL increased for the lowest speed compared to the higher speed, and for the TibAnt increased at high speed compared to low speed. In addition, Fability fAL, and fV of the SOL predicted over 58% of NCw and FMax of the TibAnt accounts for 39.9% of the variance in NCw. The increase of NCw with gait speed over the preferred walking speed can be partially explained by the decreasing capacity of the SOL muscle to produce muscle force and more specifically by the force-velocity relationship and an increase in muscle force for the TibAnt.