骨髓间充质干细胞移植促进糖尿病大鼠后肢缺血血管的新生

背景：骨髓间充质干细胞是否是促进下肢缺血血管新生的主要种子细胞来源呢？目的：探讨骨髓间充质干细胞肌肉注射移植诱导大鼠糖尿病后肢缺血的血管新生证据。方法：采用腹腔注射链脲佐菌素（STZ）结合双侧股动脉结扎制备雄性SD大鼠糖尿病后肢缺血模型。自股动脉离断处起分10个点将BrdU标记BMSCs悬液注射入模型大鼠左后肢股直肌和腓肠肌中;右后肢采用等量生理盐水注射作为对照。结果与结论：移植2周后模型大鼠双后肢可见血管显影,6周后血管更为丰富,左侧均高于右侧。移植后2周,左后肢股直肌与腓肠肌的毛细血管密度分别高于右后肢的密度（P〈0.05）;BrdU标记阳性移植细胞参与了左后肢血管壁构成。表明局部注射移植骨髓间充质干细胞可改善糖尿病后肢缺血大鼠的血供,并参与小血管重建,有助于糖尿病后肢缺血的血管新生。     

骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗肢体缺血的机制

背景:骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗下肢缺血疾病已取得较好的效果,但其作用机制尚无定论。目的:探讨骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗SD大鼠后肢缺血的机制。方法:结扎肾动脉下腹主动脉、腰动脉和髂腰动脉制备雌性SD大鼠后肢缺血模型。将扩增、纯化的雄性SD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞注射入大鼠缺血的右后肢股直肌中,对照组右后肢注射等量生理盐水。移植后2,4,6周,制备大鼠右股直肌切片行苏木精-伊红染色、血管内皮生长因子免疫组织化学染色、SRY基因免疫组织化学染色。结果与结论:移植后2,4,6周移植组右股直肌毛细血管计数、血管内皮生长因子免疫组织化学染色阳性细胞计数均明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。移植组股直肌切片中SRY免疫组织化学染色阳性细胞出现于毛细血管壁,并散在分布于肌组织中。结果表明局部注射移植骨髓间充质干细胞能促进缺血组织迅速生成大量毛细血管,改善大鼠缺血下肢的血供。骨髓间充质干细胞作为旁分泌细胞,通过增加血管内皮生长因子的分泌,促使大鼠缺血肢体的血管新生。     

人脐带间充质干细胞移植改善糖尿病兔下肢缺血

背景:将骨髓和自体外周血干细胞移植到糖尿病下肢缺血患者的下肢肌肉内后,可促进血管再生,改善和恢复糖尿病下肢缺血患者的患肢血流,但采集风险较大,对患者年龄、身体条件、心理接受程度要求较高。与骨髓和自体外周血干细胞相比,脐带资源丰富,细胞采集简单,免疫原性弱。目的:探讨人脐带间充质干细胞移植改善糖尿病兔下肢缺血的可行性。方法:建立糖尿病兔动物模型,结扎双后肢股动脉及分支制备下肢缺血动物模型。取经DIL染料标记的人脐带间充质干细胞悬液分15点(每点平均细胞数约为1.67×106)注射于左后肢缺血部位,右后肢缺血部位注射生理盐水,分别于第2,4周后取双侧后肢内收肌和腓肠肌标本,病理切片观察血管新生程度,CD31免疫组化检测毛细血管密度并进行皮温测定。结果与结论:病理切片显示移植组较对照组侧支血管明显增多,CD31免疫组化标记移植组较对照组毛细血管密度增加,移植组皮温比对照组明显增高,差异有显著性意义(P≤0.05)。实验结果表明人脐带间充质干细胞移植是改善糖尿病下肢缺血的一种有效手段。     

人脐带间充质干细胞移植改善糖尿病兔下肢缺血

背景：将骨髓和自体外周血干细胞移植到糖尿病下肢缺血患者的下肢肌肉内后,可促进血管再生,改善和恢复糖尿病下肢缺血患者的患肢血流,但采集风险较大,对患者年龄、身体条件、心理接受程度要求较高。与骨髓和自体外周血干细胞相比,脐带资源丰富,细胞采集简单,免疫原性弱。目的：探讨人脐带间充质干细胞移植改善糖尿病兔下肢缺血的可行性。方法：建立糖尿病兔动物模型,结扎双后肢股动脉及分支制备下肢缺血动物模型。取经DIL染料标记的人脐带间充质干细胞悬液分15点（每点平均细胞数约为1.67×106）注射于左后肢缺血部位,右后肢缺血部位注射生理盐水,分别于第2,4周后取双侧后肢内收肌和腓肠肌标本,病理切片观察血管新生程度,CD31免疫组化检测毛细血管密度并进行皮温测定。结果与结论：病理切片显示移植组较对照组侧支血管明显增多,CD31免疫组化标记移植组较对照组毛细血管密度增加,移植组皮温比对照组明显增高,差异有显著性意义（P≤0.05）。实验结果表明人脐带间充质干细胞移植是改善糖尿病下肢缺血的一种有效手段。     

高频超声评价自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植对免缺血肢体血管再生的影响

背景:研究发现干细胞可分化为血管内皮细胞,并可进一步分化形成新生毛细血管,自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植促进血管再生正是利用这一原理达到治疗下肢缺血的目的.目的:采用高频二维超声及彩色多普勒血流成像检测评价自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植后兔缺血肢体血管再生的情况.设计、时间及地点:随机对照动物实验,于2007-03/2008-04在无锡市第三人民医院完成.材料:新西兰大白兔24只,随机分为模型对照组、细胞移植组,12只/组.方法:2组兔均建立后肢缺血动物模型,造模1周后,细胞移植组取体外分离培养的Brdu标记的自体骨髓间充质干细胞,在腓肠肌部位皮下分多点注射,细胞悬液总体积0.5 mL,细胞总量2×105个;模型对照组于相同部位注射等量生理盐水.主要观察指标:对兔股动脉及股浅动脉起始段行高频二维超声及彩色多普勒血流成像检测,测量股动脉血管内径、血流峰值速度、血流加速时间;取缺血部位肌肉组织,免疫组织化学染色检测移植细胞分布情况及病理学检查血管再生情况.结果:移植后2周,高频超声检查细胞移植组兔股动脉内径、血流峰值速度均大于模型对照组,血流加速时间小于模型对照组(P<0.01).免疫组织化学染色后移植部位可见抗Brdu染色阳性细胞的存在,病理切片示细胞移植组血管密度明显高于模型对照组.结论:自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植具有促进血管生成的作用,有望成为一种简单有效的治疗下肢缺血的方法,同时高频超声检测股动脉为自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植效果评价提供了有效实用的方法.     

腺病毒介导血管内皮生长因子基因转染大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞移植梗死心肌的血管再生

背景：骨髓间充质干细胞的存活率与良好的血液供应关系密切，在移植早期其自身所分泌产生的促血管生长因子不足以刺激血管新生而容易导致移植的细胞死亡。目的：观察骨髓间充质干细胞移植联合血管内皮生长因子基因转染对大鼠梗死心肌组织修复重建、血管再生的影响。设计、时间及地点：随机分组设计的细胞基因工程实验，于2006-01／2007-12在中山大学第二附属医院医学研究中心完成。材料：选取具有相同遗传背景的雄性SD大鼠40只建立急性心肌梗死模型，6~8周龄．体质量250～300g。方法：体外分离、培养、纯化SD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞，以BrdU标记骨髓间充质干细胞。腺病毒介导血管内皮生长因子基因转染骨髓间充质干细胞。将造模后大鼠随机分为4组．每组10只：基因转染骨髓间充质干细胞组，梗死心肌内注射体外转染腺病毒介导血管内皮生长因子的骨髓间充质干细胞；骨髓间充质干细胞组，梗死心肌内注射骨髓间充质干细胞；基因转染组，注射腺病毒介导的血管内皮生长因子；对照组，注射无血清IMDN培养液。主要观察指标：移植4周后观察移植细胞分化和新生血管的形成，并通过超声多普勒检测心功能变化。结果：细胞移植4周后，基因转染骨髓间充质干细胞组、骨髓间充质干细胞组移植区移植细胞表现为心肌肌钙蛋白T染色阳性，细胞呈肌样细胞形态，并且两组心功能都较移植前有明显改善，基因转染骨髓间充质干细胞组改善程度优于骨髓间充质干细胞组。部分BrdU染色阳性的细胞可以分化成为内皮细胞，参与构成了梗死区域新生毛细血管，相对于单纯细胞移植与细胞因子移植，细胞移植结合血管内皮生长因子基因转染促进毛细血管新生更明显。结论：骨髓间充质干细胞移植联合血管内皮生长因子基因转染可以通过促进心肌再生和新生血管的形成来重建缺血心肌，明显改善心功能。     

血管内皮生长因子基因修饰骨髓间充质干细胞移植心肌梗死大鼠:高压氧干预促进治疗性血管生成

背景:骨髓间充质干细胞移植入缺血心肌后梗死区周边心肌的缺血、缺氧、炎性反应、细胞凋亡等病理变化严重影响到移植骨髓间充质干细胞的存活,而高压氧能显著改善其缺氧状态。目的:对心肌梗死模型大鼠缺血心肌局部移植血管内皮生长因子修饰的骨髓间充质干细胞,在移植后对大鼠进行高压氧干预,探讨其对骨髓间充质干细胞移植后所获得的治疗性血管生成效应的影响。方法:将真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)/人血管内皮生长因子165转染大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞,再移植至心肌梗死模型大鼠的缺血区组织,移植前细胞行CM-DiI标记。移植后2周每日对大鼠行高压氧治疗干预。移植1个月后行心脏B超测量其左室射血分数,组织化学苏木精-伊红染色和Ⅷ因子染色并评价新生血管密度。结果与结论:CM-DiI能有效标记骨髓间充质干细胞,标记率近100%。细胞移植1个月后高压氧干预的大鼠射血分数、再生血管密度较均明显增高(P<0.05)。证实,高压氧干预能显著促进移植血管内皮生长因子基因修饰的骨髓间充质干细胞的心肌梗死大鼠所获得的治疗性血管生成作用,对心脏功能有明显改善作用。     

超声评价兔骨髓间充质干细胞自体移植对缺血肢体血管再生的影响

目的探讨超声在评价兔骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）自体移植促进血管再生过程中的应用价值。方法把24只新西兰兔分为实验组（12只）和对照组（12只），分离培养实验组兔骨髓间充质干细胞，Brdu标记，建立兔后肢缺血动物模型，将取于自体的骨髓间充质干细胞制成细胞悬液注射于实验组兔缺血部位，对照组注射等量生理盐水。2周后对实验组和对照组兔股动脉及股浅动脉起始段行常规超声及彩色多普勒血流成像（CDFI）检测，检测股动脉血管内径、血流峰值速度及血流加速时间；取缺血部位肌肉组织，行免疫组织化学染色检测实验组移植细胞存在分布情况以及病理学检查血管再生情况。结果骨髓间充质干细胞移植实验2周后，实验组兔股动脉内径、血流峰值速度均大于对照组，血流加速时间小于对照组（P〈0．01）。免疫组织化学染色结果显示移植部位有移植细胞存在。实验组血管再生情况明显优于对照组。结论骨髓间充质干细胞移植具有促进血管生成的作用。自体移植有望成为一种简单且有效治疗下肢缺血的方法。高频超声检测股动脉对自体移植效果评价提供了有效实用的方法。     

静脉移植骨髓间充质干细胞联合重组人生长激素对充血性心肌病大鼠心肌和血管组织的修复

背景:骨髓间充质干细胞静脉移植后,能否归巢至心脏受损部位和分化为心肌样细胞尚无统一定论.目的:探讨重组人生长激素联合骨髓间充质干细胞静脉移植对充血性心肌病大鼠心肌和血管新生的影响.方法:密度梯度离心和贴壁筛选法获得大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞.模型组、细胞移植组、生长激素组、联合组大鼠均在阿霉素诱导下建立心脏衰竭模型.造模后,细胞移植组经静脉注入BrdU标记的骨髓间充质干细胞8×10~(13) L~(-1);生长激素组皮下注射重组人生长激素2 U/(kg·d),连续14 d;联合组行骨髓间充质干细胞移植与重组人生长激素注射.4周后取材,BrdU+MHC及BrdU+Actin免疫组化染色确定骨髓间充质干细胞的归巢情况,评价移植细胞向心肌样细胞和血管内皮细胞的分化,苏木精-伊红染色检测血管密度.结果与结论:与细胞移植组比较,联合组BrdU免疫组化阳性率显著升高(P < 0.001);BrdU+MHC双染和BrdU+Actin双染后心肌样细胞、血管内皮细胞均显著增多(P < 0.001).与模型组比较,生长激素组、细胞移植组、联合组的总血管密度、微血管密度、毛细血管密度均显著升高(P < 0.001),后3组间比较无明显差异(P > 0.05).结果证实骨髓间充质干细胞静脉移植后可归巢到心脏,对充血性心肌病大鼠心肌和血管有明显修复作用,能在损伤处区存活、生长,并向心肌样细胞、血管内皮细胞方向分化,增加损伤处血管密度;生长激素可以改善微环境,加强骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞、血管内皮细胞的转化率.     

骨髓间充质干细胞自体移植促进兔缺血肢体的血管生成

背景:常规药物治疗、介入或血管旁路移植手术对下肢动脉闭塞症的远期疗效均不理想。近年来采用干细胞的血管再生疗法在梗死部位修复或重新建立有效侧支循环逐渐成为可能。目的:验证骨髓间充质干细胞自体移植对兔缺血后肢血管再生的促进作用。设计、时间及地点:随机对照动物实验,于2005-08/2006-11在江苏省血吸寄生虫病防治研究所完成。材料:选用新西兰大白兔8只,制备兔后肢缺血模型。按随机数字表法分为2组,实验组及对照组各4只。方法:分离培养实验组兔骨髓间充质干细胞,5-溴-2-脱氧尿苷标记,将骨髓间充质干细胞制成悬液注射于实验组兔后肢缺血部位;对照组注射等量生理盐水。主要观察指标:2周后行兔股动脉二维及彩色多普勒超声检测,观察移植前后的血管内径、血流峰值速度及血流加速时间等;取缺血部位肌肉组织,通过免疫荧光及苏木精-伊红染色观察移植细胞分布及血管生成情况。结果:细胞移植2周后实验组兔的股动脉内径、血流峰值速度均大于对照组(P<0.01),血流加速时间短于对照组(P<0.01)。免疫荧光染色结果显示实验组兔移植部位有抗5-溴-2-脱氧尿苷染色阳性细胞存在;苏木精-伊红染色结果显示实验组缺血部位血管密度高于对照组。结论:骨髓间充质干细胞具有促进血管生成的作用,自体移植可望成为一种简单的、有效的治疗下肢缺血的方法。     

Muscle activation patterns during walking from transtibial amputees recorded within the residual limb-prosthetic interface

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Powered lower limb prostheses could be more functional if they had access to feedforward control signals from the user's nervous system. Myoelectric signals are one potential control source. The purpose of this study was to determine if muscle activation signals could be recorded from residual lower limb muscles within the prosthetic socket-limb interface during walking. METHODS: We recorded surface electromyography from three lower leg muscles (tibilias anterior, gastrocnemius medial head, gastrocnemius lateral head) and four upper leg muscles (vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and gluteus medius) of 12 unilateral transtibial amputee subjects and 12 non-amputee subjects during treadmill walking at 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, and 1.6 m/s. Muscle signals were recorded from the amputated leg of amputee subjects and the right leg of control subjects. For amputee subjects, lower leg muscle signals were recorded from within the limb-socket interface and from muscles above the knee. We quantified differences in the muscle activation profile between amputee and control groups during treadmill walking using cross-correlation analyses. We also assessed the step-to-step intersubject variability of these profiles by calculating variance-to-signal ratios. RESULTS: We found that amputee subjects demonstrated reliable muscle recruitment signals from residual lower leg muscles recorded within the prosthetic socket during walking, which were locked to particular phases of the gait cycle. However, muscle activation profile variability was higher for amputee subjects than for control subjects. CONCLUSION: Robotic lower limb prostheses could use myoelectric signals recorded from surface electrodes within the socket-limb interface to derive feedforward commands from the amputee's nervous system.     

脐血内皮祖细胞尾静脉与局部注射治疗糖尿病下肢缺血

背景:内皮祖细胞治疗糖尿病下肢缺血临床及动物实验多采用局部肌肉注射。目的:比较脐血内皮祖细胞鼠尾静脉与局部注射治疗糖尿病下肢缺血效果的差异。方法:取Wistar雄性大鼠分成5组:①糖尿病射线照射后结扎双后肢股动脉,尾静脉注射内皮祖细胞(DLV)。②糖尿病结扎双后肢股动脉左后肢局部肌肉注射PBS(DLC),右后肢局部肌肉注射内皮祖细胞(DLM)。③正常大鼠射线照射后结扎双后肢,尾静脉注射内皮祖细胞(NLV)。④糖尿病不结扎不注射内皮祖细胞(DC)。用绿色荧光示踪内皮祖细胞,苏木精-伊红染色检测肌纤维间毛细血管数,RT-PCR检测双后肢肌肉血管内皮生长因子mRNA水平。结果与结论:DLV组与DLM组比较,右后肢腓肠肌溃疡及缺血好转明显,二者无明显区别;有明显荧光,差别不明显,Ⅷ因子免疫组织化学染色肌纤维间毛细血管数多,相互间无明显差别;腓肠肌血管内皮生长因子表达差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。提示脐血内皮祖细胞治疗糖尿病大鼠下肢缺血尾静脉注射与局部肌肉注射效果相当。     

正常青年人自然步态下肢肌的表面肌电图分析

背景:肌肉的生物电活动是人体的能动部分,可反映人体运动的功能。目的:观察和分析正常青年人在自然步态中下肢肌肉的表面肌电活动。方法:采用美国NORAXON公司生产的TELEMYO2400RG2表面肌电图仪对30例正常青年人在平地自然行走时,其双下肢股直肌、胫前肌、股二头肌和腓肠肌内侧进行测试,分析在正常步态中受试肌群表面肌电信号的变化规律。结果与结论:正常青年人平地自然步行中,其双下肢股直肌、胫前肌、股二头肌和腓肠肌内侧的肌电随步态周期呈活动与静止周期性变化,左右侧同名肌肉交替活动;平均肌电振幅、平均肌电积分、平均频率、中位频率值最大的是腓肠肌内侧,其余由大到小依次是胫前肌,股二头肌,股直肌,右左腿分布规律一致;右侧腓肠肌内侧平均肌电振幅、平均频率、中位频率值均明显低于左侧(P<0.05);受试肌的时域、频域值波动在一定范围。提示正常青年人自然步态中下肢肌群肌电活动呈节律性和右左侧交替活动;在受试肌中腓肠肌内侧的肌电活动最强;腓肠肌内侧的肌电活动存在着优势侧与非优势侧的轻度差别;下肢肌肌电活动的时域、频域值在一定范围波动。     

Muscle activation patterns during walking from transtibial amputees recorded within the residual limb-prosthetic interface

Powered lower limb prostheses could be more functional if they had access to feedforward control signals from the user’s nervous system. Myoelectric signals are one potential control source. The purpose of this study was to determine if muscle activation signals could be recorded from residual lower limb muscles within the prosthetic socket-limb interface during walking. We recorded surface electromyography from three lower leg muscles (tibilias anterior, gastrocnemius medial head, gastrocnemius lateral head) and four upper leg muscles (vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and gluteus medius) of 12 unilateral transtibial amputee subjects and 12 non-amputee subjects during treadmill walking at 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, and 1.6 m/s. Muscle signals were recorded from the amputated leg of amputee subjects and the right leg of control subjects. For amputee subjects, lower leg muscle signals were recorded from within the limb-socket interface and from muscles above the knee. We quantified differences in the muscle activation profile between amputee and control groups during treadmill walking using cross-correlation analyses. We also assessed the step-to-step inter-subject variability of these profiles by calculating variance-to-signal ratios. We found that amputee subjects demonstrated reliable muscle recruitment signals from residual lower leg muscles recorded within the prosthetic socket during walking, which were locked to particular phases of the gait cycle. However, muscle activation profile variability was higher for amputee subjects than for control subjects. Robotic lower limb prostheses could use myoelectric signals recorded from surface electrodes within the socket-limb interface to derive feedforward commands from the amputee’s nervous system.     

脐血内皮祖细胞尾静脉与局部注射治疗糖尿病下肢缺血

背景：内皮祖细胞治疗糖尿病下肢缺血临床及动物实验多采用局部肌肉注射。目的：比较脐血内皮祖细胞鼠尾静脉与局部注射治疗糖尿病下肢缺血效果的差异。方法：取Wistar雄性大鼠分成5组：①糖尿病射线照射后结扎双后肢股动脉,尾静脉注射内皮祖细胞（DLV）。②糖尿病结扎双后肢股动脉左后肢局部肌肉注射PBS（DLC）,右后肢局部肌肉注射内皮祖细胞（DLM）。③正常大鼠射线照射后结扎双后肢,尾静脉注射内皮祖细胞（NLV）。④糖尿病不结扎不注射内皮祖细胞（DC）。用绿色荧光示踪内皮祖细胞,苏木精-伊红染色检测肌纤维间毛细血管数,RT-PCR检测双后肢肌肉血管内皮生长因子mRNA水平。结果与结论：DLV组与DLM组比较,右后肢腓肠肌溃疡及缺血好转明显,二者无明显区别;有明显荧光,差别不明显,Ⅷ因子免疫组织化学染色肌纤维间毛细血管数多,相互间无明显差别;腓肠肌血管内皮生长因子表达差异无显著性意义（P〉0.05）。提示脐血内皮祖细胞治疗糖尿病大鼠下肢缺血尾静脉注射与局部肌肉注射效果相当。     

膝骨关节炎患者膝关节置换后下肢肌的表面肌电图变化

背景：膝骨关节炎患者膝关节置换后下肢肌功能恢复一直存在着争议。目的：评价膝骨关节炎患者膝关节置换手术后下肢肌肉功能。方法：应用TELEMYO2400RG2表面肌电图遥测仪对25例双膝骨关节炎单膝关节置换后患者在平常自然步态下进行双下肢股直肌、胫前肌、股二头肌和腓肠肌内侧的表面肌电信号测试。在肌电图测试前,对患者双膝关节功能进行美国特种外科医院膝关节评分。结果与结论：患者置换后美国特种外科医院膝关节评置换侧平均分91．44,其优良率达100％;未置换侧平均分54．52。置换侧在疼痛、关节功能方面有明显改善;膝关节置换后置换侧股直肌、胫前肌、股二头肌的肌电振幅、肌电积分、平均频率、中位频率的（平均值、最小值、最大值）与未置换侧相比差异无显著性意义（P〉0．05）;置换侧腓肠肌内侧肌电振幅值及肌电积分值显著大于未置换侧（P〈0．05）;置换侧腓肠肌内侧平均频率、中位频率与未置换侧相比差异无显著性意义（P〉0．05）。提示膝关节置换后置换侧的下肢肌没有恢复到正常的功能活动水平,因此膝关节置换后康复要特别重视患者的肌肉锻炼。     

Plantar flexor muscle function in open and closed chain

In the present study, the torque or work produced during isometric, pure concentric and eccentric–concentric plantar flexions, performed in sitting, standing and prone were measured. The electromyographic (EMG) activity was measured from the soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscles. The isometric tests showed the highest torques in the standing test. The rectus femoris and gastrocnemius activities were lower in the prone than in the standing test. The sitting test showed lower activities in all muscles of the lower leg compared with the standing test. No differences in work between the prone and sitting tests were found during the concentric phases. Higher rectus femoris activity in the eccentric–concentric test and lower activity in the triceps surae during the concentric phases were seen in the sitting compared with the prone test. We conclude that tests of overall functional ability should be performed in the standing position while specific tests of the plantar flexors should be performed in the prone position.     

Do Fitflops™ increase lower limb muscle activity?

Background

Fitness toning shoes are becoming increasingly popular, they aim to increase muscle activity, raise energy expenditure and improve overall health while wearing them. Yet there is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding their effectiveness. One such shoe on the market is the Fitflop™ designed to activate leg muscles through density shifts in the shoe's sole. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of wearing Fitflops^TM on the muscle activity of the lower limb.

Methods

Twenty three females (age 20.8 (1.3)years, mass 62.9 (11.9)kg, height 165.4 (5.6)cm) participated in the study. Muscle activity of the medial gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, rectus femoris and gluteus maximus of the participants' right limb were recorded using surface electromyography during participation in three different tasks to simulate daily living activities. These were a) treadmill walking b) stair climbing and c) zigzag walking around cones. The participants completed the tasks barefoot, while wearing Fitflops™ and while wearing regular flip flops so that comparisons between muscle activity in the different shoe conditions could be made.

Findings

The results show that there was no significant difference in the activity of the medial gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, rectus femoris and gluteus maximus muscles across all shoe conditions and simulated daily activities (P > 0.05).

Interpretation

Based on these results, the use of Fitflops™ is not recommended as a means of increasing muscle activity of the medial gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, rectus femoris and gluteus maximus during activities of daily living in a healthy recreationally active female population.