An electromyographic analysis of hip abductor muscle activity when subjects are carrying loads in one or both hands

Forces produced at the hip joint as a result of hip abductor muscle contractions while carrying loads reach several times body weight (BW). Physical therapists often advise patients with hip osteoarthritis in ways to minimize these forces as a means of reducing the pain associated with carrying load...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Physical therapy Vol. 72; no. 3; p. 207
Main Authors:	Neumann, D A, Cook, T M, Sholty, R L, Sobush, D C
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 01-03-1992
Subjects:	Adult Analysis of Variance Biomechanical Phenomena Body Height Body Weight Electromyography - instrumentation Electromyography - methods Evaluation Studies as Topic Female Hand Hip Joint Humans Male Muscles - physiology Osteoarthritis, Hip - physiopathology Torsion Abnormality Walking Weight-Bearing - physiology
Online Access:	Get more information
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Forces produced at the hip joint as a result of hip abductor muscle contractions while carrying loads reach several times body weight (BW). Physical therapists often advise patients with hip osteoarthritis in ways to minimize these forces as a means of reducing the pain associated with carrying loads. The purpose of this study was to use surface electromyography (EMG) to quantify the relative demands placed on the hip abductors while carrying loads in one hand or in both hands. Thirty asymptomatic college-aged subjects walked while carrying loads of 10% and 20% of BW unilaterally and loads of 10%, 20%, and 40% of BW bilaterally. Signals from foot switches allowed a computer to average the EMG data over the phase of gait when the foot was in complete contact with the ground. All EMG data were normalized to a percentage of the EMG voltage produced during no-load walking (%EMG). Our prime dependent variable was the %EMG averaged over both hip sides of all subjects' multiple walking trials. Our major analysis involved a multifactorial analysis of variance for repeated measures with method of carry (unilateral or bilateral) and load as the two main independent variables. Results demonstrated that both the amount of the load and the method of load carry made a significant difference in regard to the amount of hip abductor EMG produced. Of particular note was the fact that the bilateral 20% of BW condition produced statistically less %EMG (when averaged over both sides) than did the unilateral 20% of BW condition. Persons with hip disease should be aware that hip joint forces may be reduced by the bilateral method of carrying loads.
ISSN:	0031-9023
DOI:	10.1093/ptj/72.3.207