Increased Variability in Lower Limb Muscle Activation Is Observed with Increasing Walking Speed in Fall-Risk Older Adults

This study is a cross-sectional study and aims to determine the differences in lower limb muscle activation and variability at preferred, slow, and fast walking speeds according to age and fall risk. We divided 301 participants into groups based on fall risk (fall-risk vs. non-fall-risk). We measured muscle activation and its coefficients of variation (CV) for the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius muscle (GCM) at speeds 20% slower, 20% faster, and 40% faster than the preferred speed (PS). When compared by fall risk, fall-risk older adults had significantly lower GCM activity and higher CVs of RF, BF, TA, and GCM in PS. With changes in gait speed, fall-risk older adults had significantly increased CVs of RF, BF, and GCM. Our findings provide new evidence that variability rather than muscle activity increases with walking speed in older adults at risk of falls, highlighting the importance of decreasing muscle activity variability in preventing fall risk.