Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the modulation of the ankle muscle electromyographic (EMG) response as a function of mental set. Thirteen young healthy subjects underwent 40 unexpected and self-initiated drops from 30 cm above two separate force-plates. Following unexpected drops, reflex activities were observed in the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and tibialis anterior (TA) at mean latencies (±SD) of 83.59±10.1 and 99.43±21.82 ms, respectively. Following self-initiated drops, the response latency of the MG was significantly shortened (to 71.98±10 ms, P<0.05), and the TA was significantly lengthened (to 183.33±45 ms, P<0.05) when compared with unexpected drops. Such a modulation was associated with a significant reduction of the impact force on landing as compared with unexpected drops (by 17%, P<0.05). Interestingly, a negative correlation was found between the onset of the TA EMG response and the magnitude of the impact force on landing during expected (r=-0.66, P<0.05) but not unexpected drops.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 77-80 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Neuroscience Letters |
Volume | 321 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2002 |
Keywords
- Electromyographic responses
- Falls
- Impact force
- Landing
- Mental set
- Unexpected and self-initiated drops
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience