The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activities of the lower limb during treadmill running under five different conditions (Level, Left, Right, Down and Up). All slopes were of 14% grade and tilted toward the left (Left), the right (Right), downward (Down), and upward (Up) directions of the runner. Nine subjects participated in this study. Electromyographic activities of the following seven muscles, gluteus maximus, bicepts femoris, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, and soleus, were measured using bipolar surface electrodes. Results showed that Left and Right slopes had only little effect on the muscular activities. However, for all of the muscles measured, the activities of the lower-positioned leg were greater than those of the higher-positioned leg. During the Up trial, almost every muscle showed greater activity than the other trials. The Down slope tended to give the anterior muscles greater, and the posterior muscles less work, compared to Level running.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.26/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE