[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to investigate the limb position at which
the maximum toe-grip strength could be exerted as well as measurement reproducibility.
[Subjects] Twenty healthy young women were selected. [Methods] We measured toe-grip
strength under three conditions: 90° hip and knee flexion while sitting, 90° hip flexion
and knee extension while sitting, and a standing position. [Results] We found that
toe-grip strength was significantly lower in the 90° hip flexion and knee extension
sitting position than in the 90° hip and knee flexion sitting position and standing
position. Moreover, the 90° hip and knee flexion sitting position produced the best
intraclass correlation coefficient (r = 0.813). [Conclusion] The results
suggest that 90° hip and knee flexion while sitting is the most suitable limb position for
measuring toe-grip strength, as this position allows maximum strength to be exerted and
allows measurements to be repeated.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the activities of the muscles
around the ankle joint during foot gripping. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were 17
healthy females. [Methods] We measured the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) activities
of the soleus muscle, the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, and the tibialis
anterior muscle, and calculated %IEMG during foot gripping in 3 different ankle joint
positions: 10° of plantar flexion, 0°, and 10° of dorsiflexion. [Results] The maximal
force of foot gripping achived by the crural muscles in any ankle position was 30–50% IMEG
of the MVC. Repeated analysis of variance showed that the %IEMG was significantly lower in
10°of dorsiflexion than in the other 2 positions for all muscles. [Conclusion] These
results suggested that the crural muscles help the ankle joint by co-contracting during
foot gripping.
[Purposes] To investigate angular changes in the ankle joint and leg muscle activities
during toe-gripping, and to examine the relationship between these changes and
toe-gripping strength. [Subjects] Eleven healthy young women were selected. [Methods] We
measured the toe-gripping strength, angular changes in the ankle joint, and leg muscle
activities of all patients during toe-gripping. [Results] The mean change in the ankle
angle in dorsiflexion from a neutral position was 3°, and a positive correlation was
observed between this angle and toe-gripping strength (r = 0.61). Thus,
toe-gripping strength increased with the angle of dorsiflexion. Regarding the leg muscle
activities, activities of the tibialis anterior muscle and medial head of the
gastrocnemius muscle demonstrated positive correlations with toe-gripping strength
(r = 0.75 and r = 0.72, respectively). [Conclusion]
These findings suggest that the ankle dorsiflexes in order to exert great toe-gripping
strength, and the crural muscles contract simultaneously because of ankle fixation.
[Purpose] This study examined the relationship between toe grip strength and its
associated factors by focusing on factors that were suggested to have a relationship with
toe grip strength in previous studies, aiming to clarify the factors influencing the toe
grip strength of healthy women. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve healthy young women were
selected for this study. Their toe grip strength, angular changes in their ankle joint
during toe grip, maximum voluntary contraction activities of the rectus femoris, biceps
femoris, and tibialis anterior muscles, and the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscles
were measured using electromyography. Their toe curl ability, foot-arch height ratio, and
weight were also measured. [Results] Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the
predictors of toe grip strength in the resulting model were foot-arch height ratio and the
percentage of integrated electromyography (%IEMG) of the tibialis anterior muscle, as the
dependent variables. This reveals that women whose tibialis anterior muscle %IEMG values
and foot-arch height ratio are high have greater %IEMG values have greater toe grip
strength. [Conclusion] These findings suggest a significant relationship between foot-arch
height ratio and toe grip strength, with a reciprocal interaction. These findings further
indicate that the risk of falls by the elderly could be decreased if toe grip strength
were enhanced, by increasing the height of a low foot-arch with the help of an inserted
insole.
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