Surface Electromyogram Analysis of Toe Exercises: a Comparison of Toe Function

[Purpose] This study analyzed toe exercises using surface electromyograms. [Subject and Methods ] The subjects were 26 feet of 16 participants, whose mean age was 25.7 ± 7.2 years old. The participants did three toe exercises, which were isometric contractions (about 5 sec) of the first toe flexor, 2nd-to-5th toe flexors and 3rd-to-5th toe flexors. An electrode was attached to four muscles: the longus peroneal, supinator muscles, and the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. [Results] In the first toe flexor exercise, the peroneus longus muscle activity increased significantiy more than the other muscles. In 2nd-to-5th toe flexor and 3rd-to-5th toe flexor exercise, the supinator muscle activity increased significantly compared to the peroneus longus muscle, and the peroneus longus muscle activity decreased significantly compared to the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. [Conclusion] The first toe flexor exercise affected the long peroneal muscle as well as the flexor hallucis longus. On the other hand, the 2nd-to-5th toe flexor and 3rd-to-5th toe flexor produced the opposite result to that of the first toe exercise.