Effects On Muscle Activity of Thigh Using The Specific Compression Belt During Walking: 2860 Board #175 May 29, 3

2860 Board #175 May 29, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Effects On Muscle Activity of Thigh Using The Specific Compression Belt During Walking Mitsuharu KAYA1, Koji Kurita2, Masanori Takemura3, Yuji Kanoh4, Yoichiro Yamashita4, Motoaki Tsuchiya4, Junzo Tsujita4. 1Hyogo University of Health Sciences, Kobe, Japan. 2Physical Conditioning Production, Osaka, Japan. 3Ichihashi Clinic, Kobe, Japan. 4Reseisha College of Medicine and Sport, Osaka, Japan. Email: [email protected] (No relationships reported) Resistance training at low loads with blood flow restriction with the specific compression belt (KAATSU Training) has been shown to induce muscular hypertrophy and strength. In addition, it is shown that the walking with the blood flow restriction causes muscular hypertrophy and muscular power improvement by the previous study (T.Abe et al,2006). And, this method is used for a muscle strength exercise in a low load in Japan. However, it is unclear that change of acute muscle activity by dynamic stimulation with the specific compression belt during walking. PURPOSE: To compare the EMG activity of directly compressed muscle (multi joints muscles) and indirectly compressed muscle (single joint muscles) during walking with and without the specific compression belt on the proximal region of femur. METHODS: A cross-over interventional study was conducted on sixteen healthy adults men, mean age 20.1 ± 0.9 yrs, performed 6 trials of 5 meter walking with and without the specific compression belt on the proximal region of femur. A specially designed elastic compression cuff belt (50 mm wide) was placed at the most proximal position of the upper thigh and inflated to a pressure calculated by the individual’s maximum pulse wave at resting condition. Movement analysis of knee and hip were done during walking, and surface EMG was recorded from the muscle belly of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), long head of biceps femoris (BF) and medial hamstrings muscles (MH), and the muscle activity was evaluated with electromyogram RMS in the stance phase. RESULTS: Muscle activities (%MVC) of the VL in compression group were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the first half of the stance phase from the second half of the swing phase, but no significant change in the RF, BF and MH were observed. The degree of hip flexion and knee extension was reduced in compression group than non-compressed group. CONCLUSIONS: Restriction of stretching the hamstring by the compression belt was the cause of limiting hip flexion and knee extension. As a result, the muscle activity of VL at knee extension seems to have increased as a braking of knee flexion. The walking with the specific compression belt on femoral proximal region increased the muscle activity of the VL more than non-compressed walking. There is a possibility that this movement method can be used as walking training to emphasize the activity of the VL.