Effect of sloped walking on lower limb muscle forces

- Descending decreased gluteus minimus, iliopsoas, hamstrings and gastrocnemii forces.
- Descending increased gluteus maximus, quadriceps, soleus and tibialis anterior forces.
- Ascending decreased gluteus minimus, iliopsoas and tibialis anterior forces.
- Ascending increased all other muscle forces (except gluteus medius).
- Muscle force information during sloped walking may be used for training procedures.

Lower limb joint loadings are increased during sloped walking compared to level walking and muscle forces are major contributors to lower limb joint forces. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze lower limb muscle forces during sloped walking at different inclinations. Eighteen healthy male participants (27.0 ± 4.7 y, 1.80 ± 0.05 m, 74.5 ± 8.2 kg) walked at a pre-set speed of 1.1 m/s on a ramp at the inclinations of 0°, ±6°, ±12° and ±18°. Kinematic data were captured with a motion capture system and kinetic data were recorded with two force plates imbedded into the ramp. A musculoskeletal model was used to compute lower limb muscle forces (normalized to body weight and gait cycle duration). During downhill walking gluteus maximus, quadriceps, soleus, peroneus and tibialis anterior muscle forces increased (p ≤ 0.002) compared to level walking, while gluteus minimus, piriformis, adductor, iliopsoas, hamstrings and gastrocnemii muscle forces decreased (p ≤ 0.002). Uphill walking decreased gluteus minimus, iliopsoas and tibialis anterior muscle forces (p ≤ 0.002), while all other muscle forces increased (p ≤ 0.002, except gluteus medius). Joint-muscle-force waveforms provided information on possible muscle contributions to joint compression forces. The most important muscles were: gluteus medius for hip forces, quadriceps and gastrocnemii for tibiofemoral forces, quadriceps for patellofemoral forces and triceps surae for ankle forces. The contribution of each muscle changed with the inclination during sloped walking compared to level walking. The current study provided important information on muscle forces during sloped walking that can be useful for rehabilitation and training procedures.