Interdependence between the biomechanical subtasks during walking

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17627
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Kibushi Benio 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 助教 (30844998)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 筋シナジー / 筋協調 / 表面筋電図 / 歩行 / 運動学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The gait pattern is achieved by continuously executing subtasks such as load response and swing phase acceleration and deceleration, which are interdependent. This study aimed to clarify the interactions between subtasks from the perspective of muscle synergy (synchronous muscle activity patterns) by focusing on propulsion force generation and clearance height adjustment. Muscle synergies were extracted from surface electromyography measured while adjusting the muscle activity around the ankle joint and adjusting the propulsion force and clearance height. The results revealed that while individual muscles may have an impact on other subtasks, adjusting the ankle dorsiflexors did not affect muscle synergies.

Free Research Field

身体運動制御

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，足関節底屈筋の活動を調整する場合，筋シナジー単位では他のサブタスクに影響しないものの，個々の筋レベルでは影響することが明らかになった．この成果は，これまで知られなかったサブタスク間での相互依存性について理解が深められたという学術的な意義がある．また，サブタスク間の相互依存性をふまえたリハビリテーションやトレーニング方法の考案につながる可能性がある．