Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load Carriage
Decrements to postural control manifest as an increase in muscle activity, indicating continuous attempts to maintain body equilibrium and postural stability. Extrinsic factors such as footwear, and intrinsic factors such as muscle fatigue, can affect postural stability. The purpose of this study wa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Safety |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/6/3/35 |
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| author | Sachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige Harish Chander Alana J. Turner Samuel J. Wilson Jeffrey D. Simpson Adam C. Knight Reuben F. Burch V. Chip Wade John C. Garner Daniel Carruth |
| author_facet | Sachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige Harish Chander Alana J. Turner Samuel J. Wilson Jeffrey D. Simpson Adam C. Knight Reuben F. Burch V. Chip Wade John C. Garner Daniel Carruth |
| author_sort | Sachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Decrements to postural control manifest as an increase in muscle activity, indicating continuous attempts to maintain body equilibrium and postural stability. Extrinsic factors such as footwear, and intrinsic factors such as muscle fatigue, can affect postural stability. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of two types of military footwear and a military-type load-carrying task on lower extremity muscle activity during various postural stability tasks. Sixteen males’ (age: 26.63 ± 3.93 years; mass: 87 ± 12.4 kg; height: 178.04 ± 6.2 cm) muscle activity from knee flexors, extensors, ankle dorsiflexors, and plantar flexors were measured using electromyography in standard (STD) and minimalist (MIN) military footwear, before (PRE) and after (POST) a simulated workload during sensory organization and motor control tests on the Neurocom EquitestTM. Mean muscle activity was analyzed using 2 (footwear) × 2 (time) repeated measures ANOVA with an alpha level of 0.05. Results revealed a requirement of significantly greater muscle activity in POST and STD. MIN demonstrated lesser balance decrements POST workload, which could be attributed to its design characteristics. Results will help in suggesting footwear design characteristics to minimize muscular exertion while eliciting better postural control, and to prevent postural instability due to overexertion in military personnel. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:44:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b2b59880cf1b4edebdfc9c198618ab44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2313-576X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:44:47Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2b59880cf1b4edebdfc9c198618ab442023-11-20T05:36:20ZengMDPI AGSafety2313-576X2020-07-01633510.3390/safety6030035Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load CarriageSachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige0Harish Chander1Alana J. Turner2Samuel J. Wilson3Jeffrey D. Simpson4Adam C. Knight5Reuben F. Burch V.6Chip Wade7John C. Garner8Daniel Carruth9Neuromechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USANeuromechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USANeuromechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USADepartment of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USASports Medicine & Neuromechanics Laboratory, Department of Movement Sciences & Health, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USANeuromechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USADepartment of Human Factors & Athlete Engineering, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USADepartment of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USADepartment of Health and Kinesiology, Troy University, Troy, AL 36082, USADepartment of Human Factors & Athlete Engineering, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USADecrements to postural control manifest as an increase in muscle activity, indicating continuous attempts to maintain body equilibrium and postural stability. Extrinsic factors such as footwear, and intrinsic factors such as muscle fatigue, can affect postural stability. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of two types of military footwear and a military-type load-carrying task on lower extremity muscle activity during various postural stability tasks. Sixteen males’ (age: 26.63 ± 3.93 years; mass: 87 ± 12.4 kg; height: 178.04 ± 6.2 cm) muscle activity from knee flexors, extensors, ankle dorsiflexors, and plantar flexors were measured using electromyography in standard (STD) and minimalist (MIN) military footwear, before (PRE) and after (POST) a simulated workload during sensory organization and motor control tests on the Neurocom EquitestTM. Mean muscle activity was analyzed using 2 (footwear) × 2 (time) repeated measures ANOVA with an alpha level of 0.05. Results revealed a requirement of significantly greater muscle activity in POST and STD. MIN demonstrated lesser balance decrements POST workload, which could be attributed to its design characteristics. Results will help in suggesting footwear design characteristics to minimize muscular exertion while eliciting better postural control, and to prevent postural instability due to overexertion in military personnel.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/6/3/35military footwearpostural stabilitysensory organization testmotor control test |
| spellingShingle | Sachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige Harish Chander Alana J. Turner Samuel J. Wilson Jeffrey D. Simpson Adam C. Knight Reuben F. Burch V. Chip Wade John C. Garner Daniel Carruth Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load Carriage Safety military footwear postural stability sensory organization test motor control test |
| title | Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load Carriage |
| title_full | Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load Carriage |
| title_fullStr | Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load Carriage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load Carriage |
| title_short | Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load Carriage |
| title_sort | muscle activity during postural stability tasks role of military footwear and load carriage |
| topic | military footwear postural stability sensory organization test motor control test |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/6/3/35 |
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