If you increase body weight support during body weight-supported treadmill training, what is the expected effect on lower-extremity muscle activation?

If you increase body weight support during body weight-supported treadmill training, what is the expected effect on lower-extremity muscle activation?

• A. Decreased lower extremity muscle activation
• B. Increased lower extremity muscle activation
• C. No change in muscle activation
• D. Varied depending on individual response

Answer: (A)

Increasing body weight support reduces the load that the legs must bear and move. With less vertical load and smaller joint moments to generate, the brain sends fewer commands to the lower-extremity muscles, so muscle activation measured during walking decreases. In body weight–supported treadmill training, more unloading typically leads to lower EMG activity in the major leg muscles as you practice stepping with less resistance. This trend holds across many individuals, though the exact amount of reduction can vary from person to person.

Increasing body weight support reduces the load that the legs must bear and move. With less vertical load and smaller joint moments to generate, the brain sends fewer commands to the lower-extremity muscles, so muscle activation measured during walking decreases. In body weight–supported treadmill training, more unloading typically leads to lower EMG activity in the major leg muscles as you practice stepping with less resistance. This trend holds across many individuals, though the exact amount of reduction can vary from person to person.