Shoe Collar Height Had No Effect on Proximal and Distal Lower Limb Muscular Responses to Unexpected Ankle Perturbation

Shoe collar height is one method for helping to stabilize the ankle. The purpose was to compare shoe collar height on muscle activity patterns during perturbed gait and study the muscle reaction times. Surface electromyography was collected from the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, ipsilateral gluteus medius and external oblique, and contralateral gluteus medius and external oblique. Eighteen, healthy male participants walked down a runway with a trapdoor to simulate an ankle injury and the average, peak, time-to-peak, and reaction time were analyzed. No significant differences were noted between collar height conditions for any of the variables. Shoe collar height had no influence on reflexive proximal and distal lower-extremity muscular responses during a simulated ankle perturbation in healthy males.