Lower limb muscles SEMG activity during high-heeled latin dancing

Abstract

aim of this study is to provide information about surface electromyography (SEMG) activity pattern in lower limb muscles during Latin dancing with different heel height shoes. SEMG signals from tibialis anterior, medial and lateral sides of gastrocnemius, soleus and biceps femoris of ten professional female dancers were recorded. All the muscles average EMG (aEMG) values except biceps femoris were significantly increased in heightened heel shoes comparing to wearing the flat heel height dancing (p<0.05). Differences were not found in both sides of gastrocnemius and soleus among low, medium and high heel. Tibialis anterior muscle was the most vulnerable part to the heel height increasing. While the heel height increased to 10cm, the aEMG data of tibialis anterior significantly higher than both 4.5cm and 7.5cm heel heights. The muscle activity variety induced by high-heeled shoes in specific dancing movement would be further clarified involving more kinetics and kinematic data of lower limb. © 2010 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.