The Claim
The soleus muscle exhibits the greatest reduction in activity and mean power frequency following the walk-run transition under both normal and body-weight-supported walking conditions, compared to other plantar flexor muscles.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
During the transition from walking to running, the soleus muscle in the calf shows the largest decrease in electrical activity and signal frequency compared to other calf muscles, regardless of whether body weight is supported or not.
See the scientific wording
The soleus muscle shows the most consistent reduction in activity and mean power frequency after the walk-run transition under both normal and body-weight-supported conditions, suggesting it plays a central role in gait transition beyond other plantar flexors.
When walking gets faster, the soleus muscle has to work harder and uses faster-tiring muscle fibers. At the point where walking turns into running, the body switches to a movement pattern that reduces how hard the soleus must push. This lets the nervous system stop using those fast-tiring fibers and start using slower, more efficient ones instead. The soleus shows this change more than other calf muscles because it bears the most load during walking, so it's the first to need relief.
What the research says
1 studyWhen people switch from walking to running, their calf muscle called the soleus gets less active than other muscles in the leg — and this happens whether they're carrying their full weight or less. This suggests the soleus might be a key player in why we switch gaits.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.