Effects of Improved Calf Muscle Function on Gait, Balance and Joint Loading in Older Adults

"Gait retraining using real-time electromyography biofeedback performed once per week for eight weeks.~During the gait retraining session the participant is walking on a treadmill while receiving information on calf muscle activation. A single session includes five bouts of walking each lasting for 5 minutes. During the first bout, the participant is receiving feedback (visual and auditive) on soleus muscle activation with the aim to increase it by 20% from their normal walking. During the second bout, the participant is receiving feedback (visual and auditive) on medial gastrocnemius muscle activation with the aim to decrease it by 20% from their normal walking. During the last three bouts, the participant is receiving feedback (visual and auditive) on the soleus to medial gastrocnemius muscle activation ratio with the aim to increase it by 20% from their normal walking. If hitting the target, the aim is increased by 5% for the subsequent bout."

"Gait retraining using real-time electromyography biofeedback performed once per week and home-based calf muscle strength training performed three times per week for eight weeks.~The gait retraining is identical to the one intervention described for the intervention group Gait retraining.~The strength training is performed three times per week except for the first week in which it is performed two times. The session contained a warm-up (3x10 repetitions of two-legged heel raises) and maximal isometric calf muscle contractions. The maximal contractions are performed using a custom device with the ankle in dorsiflexion and the knee flexed by 100-120 degrees. Three sets of 10 repetitions (3-second contraction and 3-second rest) are performed with both legs and with maximal effort and 1-minute rest between the sets."