Background

While ankle muscles, highly affected by aging, are highly implicated in the changes in gait kinematics and involved in the limitation of seniors' mobility, whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training of these muscles could impact gait kinematics in older adults has not been investigated yet.

Research question

What are the effects of 12 weeks of ankle plantar and dorsiflexors NMES training on strength and gait kinematics in healthy older adults?

Methods

Fourteen older adults (73.6 ± 4.9 years) performed a three-time per week, three months long NMES training of both ankle plantar and dorsiflexors. Before and after training, neuromuscular parameters, gait kinematic parameters, and daily physical activity were measured.

Results

The participants significantly increased their lower limb muscle mass and their plantar and dorsiflexors isometric strength after training. They reduced the hip abduction/adduction and the pelvic anterior tilt range of motion and variability during gait. However, the participants became less active after the training.

Significance

NMES training of ankle muscles, by increasing ankle muscle mass and strength,modified gait kinematics. NMES training of ankle muscles is feasible and effective to lower the hip implication and increment foot progression angle during gait. Further study should determine if this could lower the risk of falling.

中文翻译：

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踝背屈肌和足屈肌神经肌肉电刺激训练影响老年人的步态运动学：一项初步研究

背景

虽然脚踝肌肉受衰老影响很大，但与步态运动的变化密切相关，并牵涉老年人活动能力的限制，但尚未研究对这些肌肉的神经肌肉电刺激（NMES）训练是否会影响老年人的步态运动然而。

研究问题

在健康的老年人中，为期12周的踝plant和背屈NMES训练对力量和步态运动学有什么影响？

方法

14名老年人（73.6±4.9岁）每周进行3次，为期3个月的NMES踝足底和背屈训练。训练前后，测量神经肌肉参数，步态运动学参数和日常身体活动。

结果

训练后，参与者的下肢肌肉质量以及足底和背屈肌等长力量显着增加。他们减少了步态期间髋关节外展/内收以及骨盆前倾的运动范围和变异性。但是，培训后参与者变得不太活跃。

意义

NMES通过增加脚踝肌肉的质量和强度来训练脚踝肌肉，改进步态运动学。NMES训练脚踝肌肉是可行且有效的方法，它可以降低步态时髋关节的影响并增加脚的前进角度。进一步的研究应确定这是否可以降低跌倒的风险。