The Effects of Unilateral Slope Loading on Lower Limb Plantar Flexor Muscle EMG in Young Males

Different loading modalities can significantly affect human gait, posture, and lower limb biomechanics. This study investigated the intensity of muscle activity in the soleus muscle of the lower limbs among young healthy adult males in a unilateral loading setting on an inclined surface. Thirteen subjects carried dumbbells while walking at a fixed speed on slopes respectively. Electromyographic (EMG) changes in the bilateral soleus muscles were recorded during these experiments. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were utilized to examine the relationships between load weight, slope angle, and muscle activity intensity. The results of this research contribute to the advancement of the field of lower limb assistive exoskeletons by addressing the data gaps related to loading on inclined surfaces, providing essential support for future assistance systems, and facilitating the development of relevant datasets aimed at enhancing terrain recognition capabilities as well as improving the mobility of device users.