Muscle activation patterns in aided gait

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Abstract
This paper reports the sequence and amplitude of muscle activation around the shoulder during different aided gait patterns. Twenty healthy subjects simulated four different gaits, ambulating at their preferred speed. Data were collected from seven muscles in the shoulder complex using surface EMG; axial loading through the walking aids was measured simultaneously. Results indicated that the activity of muscles around the shoulder is extensive during the loading phase of aided gait and that, in certain gait patterns significant reductions in muscle activity could be obtained by minor modification of the crutch-shaft orientation.