INTRA-LIMB JOINT COUPLING PATTERNS DURING THE USE OF THREE LOWER EXTREMITY EXERCISE MACHINES

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to preliminarily describe sagittal plane joint coupling patterns for a spectrum of common lower extremity exercises. Each participant performed 3, 10 second sessions on a stationary bicycle, elliptical and treadmill. Intra-limb coupling angles of the hip and knee for two recreational athletes were quantified using vector coding techniques on randomly selected cycles from each movement. Variability patterns within the same movements were repeatable within and between each participant while each movement’s distinguishable variability pattern differed both spatially and temporally between pieces of exercise equipment. These findings suggest that each exercise machine studied is distinguishable characteristics in its variability pattern. Comparison of variability patterns might be a useful method in the design of functional training exercises to aid in optimally mimicking task kinematics.