Electromyographic temporal analysis of gait: normal human locomotion.

The telemetered electromyographic (EMG) activity of pretibial muscles (tibialis anterior), triceps surae (lateral gastrocnemius), medial hamstring group and quadriceps (vastus lateralis) of 20 normal subjects was examined during locomotion. The ages of the subjects ranged from 8 to 72 years (mean, 37 years). A microswitch shoe was used to correlate the EMG activity with eight specific components of the gait cycle. Tibialis anterior showed two peaks of activity, the first at the swing-stance transition, the second at the stance-swing transition. Gastrocnemius showed a single peak of activity recorded during push-off. The medial hamstring showed its greatest activity during deceleration in the swing phase. Vastus lateralis demonstrated peak activity at the transition from swing to stance. The mean cadence was 106 steps per minute. Swing phase occupied 39.6% and stance phase 60.4% of the gait cycle.