Pushing A Sled with Constant Resistance and Controlled Cadence Induces Lower Limb Musculature Quicker Activation Response and Prolongs Duration with Faster Speed

Physical inactivity is rising in both youthful and older people. Such inactivity is problematic for many reasons, primarily because it contributes to overall physical deconditioning. This study examines characteristics in lower extremity muscle adaptations while pushing a sled at constant resistance with three varying cadences. Twenty-one graduate school participants with an average age of 22.8 years consented to place electromyography (EMG) electrodes on their dominant leg. The targeted muscles for the EMG electrodes were over the gastrocnemius (GA), tibialis anterior (TA), and gluteus maximus (GMax). The subject's muscle activation was monitored over three different walking protocols at varying cadences. The protocols were: slow walk (SW, 80 bpm), intermediate walk (IW, 110 bpm), and fast walk cadence (FW, 140 bpm). The investigation results portrayed two main findings: the muscles studied exhibited faster muscle recruitment and a shorter duration of activation when cadence was increased from the IW to the FW cadence. The second discovery among the IW and FW protocols revealed that the GA and Gmax showed greater muscular adaptations than the TA. In conclusion, pushing the sled proves effective in recruiting lower extremity musculature, indicating it could be of great use in rehabilitating individuals deemed deconditioned.