Figure 2

The results of meta-analysis of studies investigating stair ascent and descent. A negative VMO-VL value indicates VMO activation before VL activation. 2. Data for the mean and standard deviation was extracted from charts rather than the text for Cowan et al [5, 20] and standard deviation for Cowan et al [16]. 3. Standard deviation for Brindle et al [21] is an average estimate using data from other studies. 4. Small study bias: Stair ascent studies: Begg's test p = 0.71; Egger's test p = 0.40. Stair descent studies: Begg's test p = 0.09, Egger's test p = 0.04.