# Establishing Reference Data for Electromyographic Activity in Gait: Age and Gender Variations
200a, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (F.S. );  
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[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (S.I.W.) 1 Cinx for Orthopaedics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Schlierbacher Landstr. 200a, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (F.S. );  
[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P.) 69118 Heidelberg, Germany; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (F.S. );  
[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P.) 1 Cinx for Orthopaedics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Schlierbacher Landstr. 200a, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (F.S. );  
[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (S.I.W.) 1 Cinx for Orthopaedics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Schlierbacher Landstr. 200a, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (F.S. );  
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[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.P.) 1 Cinx for Orthopaedics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Schlierbacher Landstr. this research by including adults and exploring various gait analysis protocols. However, their study was limited by a sample size of 40 participants (20 in each age group) and did not specifically examine factors like gender. Extensive research has established distinct gait characteristics between adult males and females, highlighting significant differences in walking patterns. Females generally display greater cadence, shorter step length, and similar gait speed compared to males [9; 10]. Gender-related differences in joint kinematics and kinetics during walking include greater hip flexion and reduced knee extension before initial contact in females. Additionally, females exhibit reduced knee and ankle torque in midstance, increased knee flexion and knee extension torque at terminal stance, as well as an increased knee flexion moment and power during pre-swing [11]. These findings suggest that gender affects motion and joint loading in gait; however, these differences may also vary with age. For example, ankle dorsiflexion duration in initial swing tends to increase more steeply with age in females than in males [12]. As individuals age, gait changes extend further, including longer stance time with slower walking, decreased ankle plantar flexor moment at push-off, and increased peak hip extensor moment during early stance [13; 14]. While age- and gender-related changes in gait functions are well-documented, the underlying factors driving these changes remain poorly understood. Some studies suggest that these gender-dependent differences may be partially attributed to variations in muscle recruitment patterns. [PERSON] et al. [15; 16] observed greater activation of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lateralis within a single gait stride in adult females, whereas this activation was absent in children aged 6-8. They proposed that this difference may reflect the influence of motor control development with age on EMG patterns. [PERSON] et al. [17] specifically examined the effect of age on the activation patterns of lower body muscles during gait and found increased gastrocnemius lateralis activation during the loading response in younger adults, alongside greater activity of the vastus lateralis, soleus, and rectus femoris during the midstance. They attributed these differences to increased ankle joint stiffness and altered stabilizing strategies in older adults. In a comprehensive study, [PERSON] et al. [12] examined the interactive effects of age and sex on EMG in 93 healthy adults, revealing a correlation between greater rectus femoris activation in males and greater gastrocnemius lateralis activation in females during mid-swing, with both variables showing age-related changes.