The Open Rehabilitation Journal

2012, 5 : 1-7
Published online 2012 June 19. DOI: 10.2174/1874943701205010001
Publisher ID: TOREHJ-5-1

EMG Activation of the Vastus Medialis Oblique and Vastus Lateralis During Four Rehabilitative Exercises

Debra Kushion , Jessica Rheaume , Kim Kopchitz , Stephen Glass , Gordon Alderink and Jann-Huei Jinn
College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Department of Movement Science, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Dr. Allendale, MI 49401, USA.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to compare four common rehabilitation exercises used in physical therapy clinics for activating the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL). Thirty-four subjects, aged 22-28 years, without patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) (18 females and 16 males) were recruited. Subjects performed four exercises—straight leg raise with neutral and externally rotated hip positions (SLRN, SLRER), and short arc quad with neutral and externally rotated hip positions (SAQN, SAQER). The integrated electromyographic (iEMG) activity of the VMO and VL and were recorded, with means of the VMO, VL and VMO/VL compared across exercises. No significant difference was found for the VMO/VL ratio across the four exercises (p=0.147). However, for the VMO and VL individually, a significant difference was found (p=0.0001), SAQER was significantly greater than SLRN and SLRER; SAQN was significantly greater than SLRN and SLRER.

These findings suggest that exercises including short arc quad knee extensions are more effective for both the VMO and VL activation than those incorporating straight leg raises, and potentially more beneficial in the rehabilitation of patients with PFPS.

Keywords:

Knee pain, patellofemoral pain, knee rehabilitation.