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Now we have this abstract from Ann Munderman when she was at Beno Nigg's lab:
Foot orthoses affect frequency components of muscle activity in the lower extremity.
Gait Posture. 2005 Jun 7
Mundermann A, Wakeling JM, Nigg BM, Humble RN, Stefanyshyn DJ.
Quote:
The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of selected foot orthoses on muscle activity in the lower extremity during running. Nine male and 12 female recreational runners, clinically and functionally classified as 'pronators', volunteered for this study and performed over-ground running trials at 4m/s in each of four experimental conditions: control, posting, molding, and posting & molding. Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from seven lower extremity muscles. Wavelet analysis was performed to obtain EMG intensities in two frequency bands that were averaged for the pre-heel-strike and post-heel-strike intervals and for 30-100% of stance phase. Posting and custom-molding of foot orthoses increased the global EMG intensity of most muscles of the lower extremity for the stance phase of running (P<0.05). The increases in EMG intensity were greater in the high- than in the low-frequency bands for some lower extremity muscles (P<0.05). The effects on muscle activity of posting and custom-molding of foot orthoses differed between the three phases of running gait. The three tested foot orthoses did affect lower extremity muscle activity differently and these effects were specific to the phases of running gait. Combinations of increased requirements of controlling joint motion and minimizing soft tissue vibrations may have led to greater increases in shank muscle activity for the posted condition. The substantial changes in EMG due to orthotic interventions found in this study documents the importance of the study of muscle activity as a reaction to shoe inserts and foot orthoses.
This is a follow-up on her previous study:
Mundermann A, Nigg BM, Humble RN, Stefanyshyn DJ
Foot orthotics affect lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during running.
Clin Biomech. 2003 Mar;18(3):254-62.
The effect of three levels of foot orthotic wedging on the surface electromyographic activity of selected lower limb muscles during gait. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2006 Aug 21;
Murley GS, Bird AR
Quote:
Background. Some types of foot orthoses have been researched for their effect on lower limb electromyographic muscle activity during walking. However, foot orthoses with high levels of medial rearfoot wedging ('inverted' foot orthoses) have not been investigated.
Methods. In a cross-sectional study, asymptomatic participants with a pronated foot type (n=15) were each issued with a pair of 0 degrees , 15 degrees and 30 degrees inverted custom-made foot orthoses. After four weeks of habituation to the orthoses, surface electromyography was used to measure the onset and maximum EMG amplitude of tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, medial gastrocnemius and soleus muscles using five conditions [barefoot, shoe-only, 0 degrees , 15 degrees and 30 degrees inverted foot orthoses conditions].
Findings. A statistically significant increase in tibialis anterior maximum EMG amplitude occurred using the shoe only (30% increase), 0 degrees (33% increase), 15 degrees (38% increase) and 30 degrees (30% increase) inverted orthoses conditions compared to walking barefoot (P<0.01). Peroneus longus maximum EMG amplitude increased significantly using the 15 degrees inverted orthosis condition compared to walking barefoot (21% increase, P=0.04).
Interpretation. Footwear and orthoses can significantly alter the maximum EMG amplitude of leg muscles during walking. Foot orthoses appear to increase peroneus longus EMG amplitude compared to footwear alone. However, the level of medial rearfoot posting within an orthosis does not appear to significantly alter maximum EMG amplitude. The individual responses to foot orthoses are highly variable. The changes in EMG amplitude with the use of foot orthoses and shoes may have clinical implications.