J Korean Phys Ther.  2021 Feb;33(1):40-46. 10.18857/jkpt.2021.33.1.40.

Changes in Lower Limb Muscle Activity during Lunge according to the Different Angle of Ankle Joint

• Ryu HJ
• Kim YT
• Park HJ
• Kwon JW

• KMID: 2519951
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2021.33.1.40

Abstract

Purpose
This study compared the muscle activity of the lower limb according to the three types of fixed angles of the ankle joint during a lunge exercise.
Methods
Twenty healthy subjects performed the lunge motion in a trial including the three types of fixed angle. The lunge motion with a neutral, 20° dorsiflexion, and 20° plantarflexion of the ankle joint were randomized and measured repeatedly. The muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST) was measured by surface electromyography.
Results
In the change in ankle joint angle, the RF, VL, BF, and ST muscle activity showed significant differences (p<0.05). In the 20° dorsiflexion position, the muscle activity of VL, BF, and ST showed a significant decrease compared to that in the neutral position (p<0.017). The muscle activity of RF and VL in the neutral position was greater than that in the 20° plantarflexion position (p<0.017). Only the muscle activity of the BF in the 20° plantarflexion position was significantly greater than the 20° dorsiflexion position (p<0.017).
Conclusion
These results revealed a difference in the muscle activity of lower extremities in the proximal region according to the angle of the ankle joint during the lunge.

Keyword

Ankle joint; Electromyography; Lunge; Quadriceps muscle; Hamstring muscle