Effects of ankle stabilizers on electromyographic activities of lower-extremity muscles during simulated half-squat parachute landing

Objective To study effects of ankle stabilizer on electromyographic activities of lower-extremity muscles during the simulated half-squat parachute landing and its gender differences. Method Eight male and eight female healthy adults were required to jump from a platform of 0. 72 m high to simulate half-squat parachute landing. The experiment was divided into 3 groups: the barefoot one as control group,the group wearing tapes and braces respectively. The electromyogram (EMG) of each subject’s tibial anterior,lateral gastrocnemius,biceps femoralis and rectus femoralis was measured. Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze and evaluate the effect of the stabilizers and genders on EMG variables. Results The use of brace significantly increased the pre-landing EMG amplitude of the tibialis anterior for male (Control: 266 μV; Tape: 368 μV; Brace: 552 μV). The stabilizers had no significant effects on the other EMG parameters. Conclusions Semi-rigid ankle braces are capable of arousing more active EMG of male’s ankle flexor during half-squat parachute landing,but female does not share this predominance. Ankle stabilizers have no significant effects on EMG activities for knee joints.