Surface Slope Enhances Anterior Muscles’ Fatigue in Lower Limbs

In this human study, the effect of the slope changes in moving surfaces on four muscle fatigue cases of lower limbs was investigated using surface electromyography. Zero, 10 and 20 degree slopes of a treadmill with a fixed speed of 5 km/h were used. Seven mature men were selected. Each man walked on the treadmill at each slope for five minutes. Then, muscle signals were recorded before and after walking on treadmill by surface electromyography. The time span between the tests for each person on the different slopes of the treadmill was 48 hours. It was revealed that the fatigue rate of muscles, at zero degrees slope, was not significantly different (P>0.05). But, at 10 degrees slope, the fatigue rate of Tibialis and others was significantly different (P<0.05) and increased. Also, at 20 degrees slope, between fatigue rate of Quadriceps and others was significantly different (P<0.05) and increased as well. It is concluded that slope changes in motion surfaces can increase the anterior muscles fatigue in lower limbs.