093, p = 0.083). The Gait Walker condition was associated with significantly longer PL activation than the normal walking condition (F = 19.396, p = 0.001); however, no differences were observed between the normal walking and Equalizer conditions (F = 0.214, p = 1.000). Furthermore, the Gait Walker condition had significantly longer durations

of PL activation than the Equalizer condition (F = 15.795, p = 0.002). Both the Gait Walker (F = 32.505, p = 0.001) and Equalizer (F = 24.958, p = 0.002) conditions had longer durations of MG activity than the normal walking condition. The Gait Walker and Equalizer conditions did not have significantly different durations of MG activation (F = 0.532, p = 0.606). During push-off, TA activation was significantly longer

Integrin inhibitor in both Gait Walker (F = 13.077, p = 0.003) and Equalizer (F = 39.266, p = 0.001) than the normal walking condition ( Table 2). There Selleck AZD6244 were no differences in TA activation between the Gait Walker and Equalizer conditions during the pre-swing phase of gait (F = 0.142, p = 1.000). Generally, mEMG values during stance were not changed when subjects performed level walking while wearing a short-leg walking boot compared to normal walking (Table 3). Specifically, there was no condition effect of the short-leg walking boots on mEMG values of the TA (F = 0.026, p = 0.975), PL (F = 1.195, p = 0.351) or MG (F = 3.093, p = 0.101). The purpose of the study was to examine the differences in timing and amplitude of muscle activation of the extrinsic ankle musculature during walking between short-leg walking boots and the control shoe. Onset of muscle activation was significantly different in the short-leg walker conditions compared to the lab shoe condition in all muscles. Short-leg walking boots were associated with an earlier onset of all muscles. However, there were no consistent differences between

the two short-leg walker almost conditions. These data lead to the rejection of the first hypothesis that no differences in onset of muscle activation would exist between the lab shoe condition and the two walker conditions. Only a single study has previously examined muscle activation in short-leg walkers, however timing of muscle activation was not investigated.10 Previous researches have investigated the neuromuscular adaptations associated with added load applied to the ankle11, 13 and 14 and wrist.13 These research studies, however, examined neuromuscular activation patterns associated with controlling the motion of a limb in space. The current study investigated muscle activation patterns in ankle musculature when the joint was acutely immobilized via the short-leg walking boots. Earlier onset of muscle activation in the ankle musculature may be a result of resistance to the normal motion of the ankle prior to and during the stance phase of the gait cycle as a result of resisted motion by the short-leg walking boots.