Relationship between antagonistic leg muscles co-contractions and body centre of gravity mechanics in different level gait disorders

Dierick, Frédéric [UCL] Domicent, Christine [UCL] Detrembleur, Christine [UCL]

Body centre of gravity (CG) mechanics and electromyographic activity of flexor-extensor antagonistic muscles of the lower limb were simultaneously recorded in lowest and middle-level gait disorders. Muscle co-contractions between tibialis anterior and triceps surae, and between rectus femoris and hamstrings were evaluated. CG mechanics was assessed by the external mechanical work (W(ext)) done to translate the CG with respect to the ground, and the recovery quantifying the efficacy of gait mechanism by the amount of energy transferred between gravitational potential and kinetic energies of the CG. The results showed a strong relationship between CG mechanics and the co-contractions of the main flexor-extensor ankle muscles. In middle-level gait disorders, our results suggest that the ankle antagonistic muscle co-contractions and the CG mechanics could provide information about gait mechanism and the integrity level of the locomotor program.