@article{ART003207860},
author={Ju-hak Kim and Ye-ji Kim and Kim Meung Kwon},
title={Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial},
journal={Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine},
issn={1975-311X},
year={2025},
volume={20},
number={2},
pages={107-116}
TY - JOUR
AU - Ju-hak Kim
AU - Ye-ji Kim
AU - Kim Meung Kwon
TI - Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
JO - Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
PY - 2025
VL - 20
IS - 2
PB - The Korean Society of Physical Medicine
SP - 107
EP - 116
SN - 1975-311X
AB - PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of treadmill walking with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on the muscle thickness and activation of the lower extremities. EMS has been widely used in rehabilitation settings to improve muscle function. However, its impact, when applied during gait training, remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 12 healthy adults were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 6), which performed treadmill walking with EMS applied to the calf muscles, or the control group (n = 6), which performed treadmill walking without EMS. The intervention lasted for one week, with three sessions per week, each lasting 20 minutes. Muscle thickness was measured using ultrasonography, and muscle activation was assessed using electromyography (EMG). Statistical analysis was conducted to compare pre- and post-intervention differences within and between groups.
RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significant increase in medial gastrocnemius muscle thickness compared to the control group (p < .05). Muscle activation in the non-dominant leg significantly improved (p < .001), and the dominant leg also showed a trend toward increased activation (p < .05).
CONCLUSION: Treadmill walking with EMS was effective in increasing muscle thickness and activation in the lower extremities. These results indicate that EMS could be a valuable rehabilitation tool for addressing muscle imbalances and improving lower limb strength. Further studies with larger sample sizes and extended intervention periods are needed to explore its long-term effects in clinical settings.
KW - EMG;Ultrasonography;walking
DO -
UR -
ER -
Ju-hak Kim, Ye-ji Kim and Kim Meung Kwon. (2025). Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine, 20(2), 107-116.
Ju-hak Kim, Ye-ji Kim and Kim Meung Kwon. 2025, "Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial", Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine, vol.20, no.2 pp.107-116.
Ju-hak Kim, Ye-ji Kim, Kim Meung Kwon "Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial" Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine 20.2 pp.107-116 (2025) : 107.
Ju-hak Kim, Ye-ji Kim, Kim Meung Kwon. Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. 2025; 20(2), 107-116.
Ju-hak Kim, Ye-ji Kim and Kim Meung Kwon. "Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial" Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine 20, no.2 (2025) : 107-116.
Ju-hak Kim; Ye-ji Kim; Kim Meung Kwon. Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine, 20(2), 107-116.
Ju-hak Kim; Ye-ji Kim; Kim Meung Kwon. Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine. 2025; 20(2) 107-116.
Ju-hak Kim, Ye-ji Kim, Kim Meung Kwon. Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. 2025; 20(2), 107-116.
Ju-hak Kim, Ye-ji Kim and Kim Meung Kwon. "Effects of Treadmill Walking with Calf Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Thickness and Muscle Activation in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial" Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine 20, no.2 (2025) : 107-116.
