Characteristics of leg muscle activity in three different tasks using the balance exercise assist robot

摘要

Ishihara K, Hirano S, Saitoh E, Tanabe S, Itoh N, Yanohara R, Katoh T, Sawada Y, Tsunoda T, Kagaya H. Characteristics of leg muscle activity in three different tasks using the balance exercise assist robot. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2015; 6: 105-112.Objective: The balance exercise assist robot (BEAR) is a balance training device that uses robotic technology. The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of leg muscle activity while using the BEAR.Methods: Subjects, comprising seven healthy adults, played three types of games composed of center of gravity movement tasks (tennis and skiing) and a coping with disturbance task (rodeo). The games had four levels of difficulty and each game was played for 90 seconds. Surface electromyography was used to measure the gluteus maximal muscle, gluteus medius muscle, rectus femoris muscle, vastus medialis muscle, biceps femoris muscle, tibialis anterior muscle, gastrocnemius and peroneus longus muscle on both sides. Mean muscle activity was calculated from muscle integrated electromyography.Results: Muscle activity in each game increased with the degree of difficulty. Comparison of muscle activity between games indicated greater muscle activity in the tibialis anterior muscle during rodeo than tennis (p = .009) and skiing (p = .017). In the gastrocnemius, muscle activity was greater during rodeo than during skiing (p = .045) and in the peroneus longus muscle, muscle activity was greater during skiing than tennis (p = .041).Conclusions: With the BEAR, the degree of difficulty can be altered to adjust the load placed on the legs. The three types of games each were able to promote different types of leg activity.