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Ankle muscle activity modulation during single-leg stance differs between children, young adults and seniors

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Abstract

Purpose

Incomplete maturation and aging-induced declines of the neuromuscular system affect postural control both in children and older adults and lead to high fall rates. Age-specific comparisons of the modulation of ankle muscle activation and behavioral center of pressure (COP) indices during upright stance have been rarely conducted. The objective of the present study was to quantify aging effects on a neuromuscular level. Thus, surface electromyography (SEMG) modulation and co-activity of ankle muscles during single-leg standing was compared in healthy children, young adults and seniors.

Methods

Postural steadiness (velocity and mean sway frequency of COP), relative muscle activation (SEMG modulation) and co-activation of two ankle muscles (tibialis anterior, TA; soleus, SO) were examined during single-leg stance in 19 children [age, 9.7 (SD 0.5) years], 30 adults [23.3 (1.5) years] and 29 seniors [62.7 (6.1) years].

Results

Velocity of COP in medio-lateral and anterior–posterior directions, mean sway frequency in anterior–posterior direction, relative muscle activation (TA and SO) and co-activation revealed large age effects (P < 0.003, η p 2 > 0.14). Post-hoc comparisons indicated higher COP velocities, anterior–posterior frequencies, relative SO activation and co-activation in children and seniors when compared with adults. Relative TA activation was higher in children and adults compared with seniors (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Increased postural sway in children and seniors seems to be counteracted with higher TA/SO co-activity and SO modulation. However, TA modulation is higher in children and adults, whereas seniors’ TA modulation capacity is diminished. An aging-induced decline of TA motor units might account for deteriorations of TA modulation in seniors.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

COP:

Center of pressure

CV:

Coefficient of variation, degree of modulation of SEMG activation curve

EMG:

Electromyography

η p 2 :

Partial eta-squared

J :

Moment of inertia

MF:

Mean frequency of the indicated COP trajectories

SD:

Standard deviation

SEMG:

Surface electromyography

SLS:

Single-leg stance

SO:

Soleus muscle

TA:

Tibialis anterior muscle

V :

Velocity of the indicated COP trajectories

ML:

COP trajectory in the medio-lateral direction

AP:

COP trajectory in the anterior–posterior direction

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Acknowledgements

We highly appreciate participants’ compliance and confidence. The authors would like to thank Ms. Tara Russell for language assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Eduard Kurz, Oliver Faude, Ralf Roth, Lukas Zahner & Lars Donath

  2. Clinic for Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Division of Motor Research, Pathophysiology and Biomechanics, Jena University Hospital, Bachstrasse 18, 07743, Jena, Germany

    Eduard Kurz

  3. Institute of Exercise Training and Computer Science in Sport, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Lars Donath

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  1. Eduard Kurz
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Correspondence to Eduard Kurz.

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Communicated by Benedicte Schepens.

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Kurz, E., Faude, O., Roth, R. et al. Ankle muscle activity modulation during single-leg stance differs between children, young adults and seniors. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 239–247 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3764-0

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