Medial and Lateral Quadriceps Muscle Activity during Weight-Bearing Knee Extension Exercise

1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert M. Willett ◽  
Jason B. Paladino ◽  
Kory M. Barr ◽  
Jill N. Korta ◽  
Gregory M. Karst
Keyword(s):  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Exercise Condition ◽  
Elastic Resistance ◽  
Activity Performance ◽  
History Of

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of weight-bearing terminal knee extension (WBKE) on normalized mean electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) and the VMO/VL ratio. Sixteen subjects with no history of knee dysfunction participated. Surface EMG data were recorded from the VMO and VL of subjects' test legs as they performed the WBKE exercise under four conditions, three involving elastic resistance and one involving no elastic resistance. EMG data were normalized relative to a maximal isometric quadriceps contraction, and overall mean VMO and VL activity and the VMO/VL ratio were determined for all conditions. The three conditions utilizing elastic resistance showed higher mean VMO and VL activity than the no-resistance condition. The VMO/ VL ratio was not significantly altered during any exercise condition as compared to maximal, quadriceps setting exercise. WBKE against elastic resistance was superior to the same exercise without resistance for generating mean VMO and VL activity. Performance of the WBKE, regardless of the position of lower extremity rotation, does not selectively activate the VMO apart from, or to a greater degree than, the VL.

Hip Adduction Does not Affect VMO EMG Amplitude or VMO:VL Ratios during a Dynamic Squat Exercise

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Boling ◽  
Darin Padua ◽  
J. Troy Blackburn ◽  
Meredith Petschauer ◽  
Christopher Hirth
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Test Session ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Emg Amplitude ◽  
Squat Exercise ◽  
History Of

Context:Clinicians commonly attempt to facilitate vastus medialis oblique (VMO) activity by instructing patients to squeeze a ball between their knees during squatting exercises.Objective:To determine whether VMO activation amplitude and the VMO to vastus lateralis (VL) activation ratio (VMO:VL) were altered when performing active hip adduction during a dynamic squat exercise.Design:Single test session.Participants:Fifteen healthy subjects, with no history of knee pain, volunteered for this study.Intervention:Surface EMG of the VMO, VL, and hip adductor (ADD) muscles were recorded while subjects performed 10 consecutive squats against their body weight through a range of 0° to 90° of knee flexion. Subjects performed the squat exercises during two different conditions: (1) active hip adduction and (2) no hip adduction.Main Outcome Measures:Average VMO EMG amplitude and VMO:VL ratio were determined during the knee flexion (0° to 90°) and knee extension (90° to 0°) phases of the squat exercise.Results:Active hip adduction did not significantly change VMO amplitude or VMO:VL ratio during the knee flexion or knee extension phases of the dynamic squat exercise.Conclusions:Based on these results, we conclude that VMO amplitude and the VMO: VL ratio are not influenced by performing active hip adduction during a dynamic squat exercise in healthy subjects.

Can Hip Joint Position affect Quadriceps Muscle Responses during Knee Extension Exercise?

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (13) ◽  
pp. 929-935
Author(s):  
Denis César Leite Vieira ◽  
Marco Aurélio Araujo Dourado ◽  
Lucas Ugliara ◽  
Joao Luiz Quagliotti Durigan ◽  
Brad J. Schoenfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Muscle Thickness ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Peak Torque ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Work Output ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Knee Extension Exercise

AbstractThis study investigated the acute effects of seated and supine knee extension exercise on muscle swelling, torque, and work output. Twelve resistance-trained men performed two isokinetic concentric-only knee-extension training protocols at different hip positions in a counter-balanced order. They completed the knee extension exercise in the seated (hip angle at 85°) and supine (hip angle at 180°) positions. The torque and work output were assessed during each set. Moreover, muscle thickness of the middle and proximal vastus lateralis and rectus femoris were evaluated before and after each protocol and used as an indicator of muscle swelling. Middle rectus femoris and proximal vastus lateralis thickness increased significantly (p=0.01) with no difference between exercise variations. However, the middle vastus lateralis thickness increased (p=0.01) only after the seated knee extension exercise (~7%). Knee extensors’ peak torque and work output were approximately 8% higher (p=0.04) in the seated when compared to the supine hip position. There was a similar decrease in torque and work output throughout both protocols (p=0.98). In conclusion, seated knee extension exercises produced greater torque, work output, and muscle swelling in the vastus lateralis when compared to the supine knee extension exercise.

Alternate muscle activity observed between knee extensor synergists during low-level sustained contractions

2002 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 675-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motoki Kouzaki ◽  
Minoru Shinohara ◽  
Kei Masani ◽  
Hiroaki Kanehisa ◽  
Tetsuo Fukunaga
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Knee Extensor ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Integrated Emg

To determine quantitatively the features of alternate muscle activity between knee extensor synergists during low-level prolonged contraction, a surface electromyogram (EMG) was recorded from the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis (VM) in 11 subjects during isometric knee extension exercise at 2.5% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 60 min ( experiment 1). Furthermore, to examine the relation between alternate muscle activity and contraction levels, six of the subjects also performed sustained knee extension at 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% of MVC ( experiment 2). Alternate muscle activity among the three muscles was assessed by quantitative analysis on the basis of the rate of integrated EMG sequences. In experiment 1, the number of alternations was significantly higher between RF and either VL or VM than between VL and VM. Moreover, the frequency of alternate muscle activity increased with time. In experiment 2, alternating muscle activity was found during contractions at 2.5 and 5.0% of MVC, although not at 7.5 and 10.0% of MVC, and the number of alternations was higher at 2.5 than at 5.0% of MVC. Thus the findings of the present study demonstrated that alternate muscle activity in the quadriceps muscle 1) appears only between biarticular RF muscle and monoarticular vasti muscles (VL and VM), and its frequency of alternations progressively increases with time, and 2) emerges under sustained contraction with force production levels ≤5.0% of MVC.

The Association of Obesity With Quadriceps Activation During Sit-to-Stand

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (12) ◽  
pp. 2134-2143
Author(s):  
Lance M Bollinger ◽  
Amanda L Ransom
Keyword(s):  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Knee Extensor ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Vastus Medialis ◽  
Trunk Flexion ◽  
Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Objective Obesity reduces voluntary recruitment of quadriceps during single-joint exercises, but the effects of obesity on quadriceps femoris muscle activation during dynamic daily living tasks, such as sit-to-stand (STS), are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine how obesity affects quadriceps muscle recruitment during STS. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 10 women who were lean and 17 women who were obese completed STS from a chair with arms crossed over the chest. Three-dimensional motion analysis was used to define 3 distinct phases (I–III) of the STS cycle. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and semitendinosus was measured. Results STS duration was greater (3.02 [SD = 0.75] seconds vs 1.67 [SD = 0.28] seconds) and peak trunk flexion angle was lower (28.9 degrees [SD = 10.4 degrees] vs 35.8 degrees [SD = 10.1 degrees]) in the women who were obese than in the women who were lean. The mean EMG activity of the knee extensors increased from phase I to phase II in both groups; however, the mean EMG activities of both the vastus medialis (32.1% [SD = 16.6%] vs 47.3% [SD = 19.6%] maximal voluntary isometric contraction) and the vastus lateralis (31.8% [SD = 19.4%] vs 47.5% [SD = 19.6%] maximal voluntary isometric contraction) were significantly lower during phase II in the women who were obese. The mean EMG activity of the semitendinosus increased throughout STS but was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Coactivation of the semitendinosus and knee extensors tended to be greater in the women who were obese but failed to reach statistical significance. Conclusions Knee extensor EMG amplitude was reduced in women who were obese during STS, despite reduced trunk flexion. Impact Reduced knee extensor recruitment during STS in obesity may redistribute forces needed to complete this task to other joints. Functional movement training may help improve knee extensor recruitment during STS in people who are obese. Lay Summary People with obesity often have low quadriceps muscle strength and impaired mobility during daily activities. This study shows that women who are obese have lower voluntary recruitment of quadriceps when rising from a chair than women who are lean do, which could increase workload on hip or ankle muscles during this important daily task. Quadriceps strengthening exercises might improve the ability to rise from sitting to standing.

scholarly journals A Preliminary Study of Dynamic Muscle Function in Hereditary Ataxia

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Richards ◽  
J.P. Bouchard ◽  
R. Bouchard ◽  
H. Barbeau
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Function ◽  
Autosomal Recessive ◽  
Normal Values ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Dynamic Strength ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Isokinetic Contractions ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Antagonistic Muscles

SUMMARY:Dynamic muscle function was evaluated in nine patients with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) and eight with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS). The measurement of torque throughout maximum voluntary isokinetic knee movements was used to quantitatively describe muscle weakness in the ataxic patients. Both FA and ARSACS patients were shown to have decreased dynamic strength in comparison to normal values during knee extension and flexion movements at 30% /s. In the FA patients a lower torqueproducing capacity was seen in the older patients.The electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded in lower extremity muscles during the movements. In the vastus lateralis (VL), deviations from the normal EMG activation pattern were described in both groups of patients. A reduced amplitude in the EMG activity in the medial hamstrings (MH) was seen in the majority of the patients. An index of coactivation was defined by comparing the EMG activity when a muscle lengthened (antagonistic) to the EMG activity when the same muscle shortened (agonistic) during the isokinetic contractions. In comparison to normal values increased coactivation indexes were present in the VL and MH in patients of both groups. The characteristics of dynamic muscle strength and the activation of agonistic and antagonistic muscles described in the present study will provide the basis of evaluation for the effects of therapy in these patients.

Examining Neuromuscular Control of the Vastus Medialis Oblique and Vastus Lateralis Muscles During Fundamental Dance Movements

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-160
Author(s):  
Hannah Weighart ◽  
Noelle Morrow ◽  
Sarah DiPasquale ◽  
Stephen J. Ives
Keyword(s):  
External Rotation ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Neuromuscular Control ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Vastus Medialis ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Dance Movements ◽  
Patellofemoral Alignment

Elite dancers have a higher rate of injury than college athletes. This may be due, in part, to improper alignment during dance movements. Electromyography (EMG) can be an important indicator of such activity. This study aimed to examine how turnout (maximal hip external rotation) impacts activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles during fundamental dance movements. Thirty female collegiate dancers were recruited from intermediate and advanced ballet and modern technique classes. Surface EMG was used to examine activation of the VMO and VL during maximal isokinetic knee extension in demi-pliés and sautés in parallel and turned-out positions. The mean VMO:VL ratio was determined as a percentage of the highest repetition of maximal extension. The ratio was significantly lower during parallel sautés (0.921 ± 0.258) in comparison to turned-out sautés (1.008 ± 0.384; p = 0.033) and parallel pliés (1.185 ± 0.509; p = 0.002). No significant relationships were found between the VMO:VL ratio and injury history or predominant style of dance. Further investigation is warranted to examine the relationships between VMO:VL activation, patellofemoral alignment, and risk of pathology during simple and complex dance movements.

Rate of fatigue during repeated submaximal contractions of human quadriceps muscle

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 1410-1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dolmage ◽  
E. Cafarelli
Keyword(s):  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Close Relation ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Vastus Lateralis Muscle ◽  
Relaxation Rates ◽  
Twitch Characteristics ◽  
Rate Of Decline ◽  
Force Time

Our purpose was to determine the effect of eight different combinations of contraction intensity, duration, and rest on the rate of fatigue in vastus lateralis muscle. A single combination consisted of contractions at 30 or 70% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), held for 3 or 7 s with 3- or 7-s rest intervals. Contractions were repeated until the subject could not hold the force for the requisite duration. At regular intervals during each experiment, a brief MVC, a single twitch, and the response to eight stimulation pulses at 50 Hz were elicited. The rate of fatigue was the rate of decline of MVC calculated from regression analysis. Mean rate of fatigue (n = 8) ranged from 0.3 to 25% MVC/min and was closely related (r = 0.98) to the product of the relative force and the duty cycle. Force from 50 Hz stimulation fell linearly and in parallel with MVC. Twitch force was first potentiated and then fell twice as fast as 50 Hz stimulation and MVC (p < 0.05). Differentiated twitch contraction and relaxation rates were higher at potentiation and lower at the limit of endurance, compared with control values (p < 0.05). The maximal electromyogram decreased 25% and the submaximal EMG increased to maximal by the end of the protocol, indicating that the entire motor unit pool had been recruited. The close relation between rate of fatigue and the force × time product probably reflects the off-setting interaction of contraction amplitude, duration, and rest interval. This occurs despite the changes in twitch characteristics and the apparent recruitment of fast fatiguing motor units.Key words: fatigue, surface EMG, limit of endurance, force × time product, twitch interpolation.

scholarly journals Coordination amongst quadriceps muscles suggests neural regulation of internal joint stresses, not simplification of task performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (14) ◽  
pp. 8135-8142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiano Alessandro ◽  
Filipe O. Barroso ◽  
Adarsh Prashara ◽  
David P. Tentler ◽  
Hsin-Yun Yeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
High Positive Correlation ◽  
Internal Joint ◽  
Task Variables

Many studies have demonstrated covariation between muscle activations during behavior, suggesting that muscles are not controlled independently. According to one common proposal, this covariation reflects simplification of task performance by the nervous system so that muscles with similar contributions to task variables are controlled together. Alternatively, this covariation might reflect regulation of low-level aspects of movements that are common across tasks, such as stresses within joints. We examined these issues by analyzing covariation patterns in quadriceps muscle activity during locomotion in rats. The three monoarticular quadriceps muscles (vastus medialis [VM], vastus lateralis [VL], and vastus intermedius [VI]) produce knee extension and so have identical contributions to task performance; the biarticular rectus femoris (RF) produces an additional hip flexion. Consistent with the proposal that muscle covariation is related to similarity of muscle actions on task variables, we found that the covariation between VM and VL was stronger than their covariations with RF. However, covariation between VM and VL was also stronger than their covariations with VI. Since all vastii have identical actions on task variables, this finding suggests that covariation between muscle activity is not solely driven by simplification of overt task performance. Instead, the preferentially strong covariation between VM and VL is consistent with the control of internal joint stresses: Since VM and VL produce opposing mediolateral forces on the patella, the high positive correlation between their activation minimizes the net mediolateral patellar force. These results provide important insights into the interpretation of muscle covariations and their role in movement control.

Tibiofemoral Joint-Surface Motions in Weight-Bearing and Non-Weight-Bearing Movement

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Hollman ◽  
Robert H. Deusinger ◽  
Linda R. Van Dillen ◽  
Dequan Zou ◽  
Scott D. Minor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Thigh Muscle ◽  
Joint Surface ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Sliding Motion ◽  
Type Design

Context:Analyses of the path of instant center of rotation (PICR) can be used to infer joint-surface rolling and sliding motion (arthrokinematics). Previous PICR research has not quantified arthrokinematics during weight-bearing (WB) movement conditions or studied the association of muscle activity with arthrokinematics.Objective:To examine tibiofemoral arthrokinematics and thigh-muscle EMG during WB and non-weight-bearing (NWB) movement.Design:2 x 9 repeated-measures experiment.Setting:Laboratory.Participants:11 healthy adults (mean age 24 years).Main Outcome Measures:Tibiofemoral percentage rolling arthrokinematics and quadriceps: hamstring EMG activity.Results:WB percentage rolling (76.0% ± 4.7%) exceeded that of NWB (57.5% ± 1.8%) through terminal knee extension (F8,80= 8.99,P< .001). Quadriceps:hamstring EMG ratios accounted for 45.1% and 34.7% of the variance in arthrokinematics throughout the WB and NWB movement conditions, respectively (P< .001).Conclusions:More joint-surface rolling occurs through terminal knee extension during WB movement and is associated with an increase in hamstring activity.

Muscle activation and blood flow do not explain the muscle length-dependent variation in quadriceps isometric endurance

2005 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 810-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Kooistra ◽  
C. J. de Ruiter ◽  
A. de Haan
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Blood Supply ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Muscle Length ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Central Activation ◽  
Full Occlusion

We investigated the role of central activation in muscle length-dependent endurance. Central activation ratio (CAR) and rectified surface electromyogram (EMG) were studied during fatigue of isometric contractions of the knee extensors at 30 and 90° knee angles (full extension = 0°). Subjects ( n = 8) were tested on a custom-built ergometer. Maximal voluntary isometric knee extension with supramaximal superimposed burst stimulation (three 100-μs pulses; 300 Hz) was performed to assess CAR and maximal torque capacity (MTC). Surface EMG signals were obtained from vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles. At each angle, intermittent (15 s on 6 s off) isometric exercise at 50% MTC with superimposed stimulation was performed to exhaustion. During the fatigue task, a sphygmomanometer cuff around the upper thigh ensured full occlusion (400 mmHg) of the blood supply to the knee extensors. At least 2 days separated fatigue tests. MTC was not different between knee angles (30°: 229.6 ± 39.3 N·m vs. 90°: 215.7 ± 13.2 N·m). Endurance times, however, were significantly longer ( P < 0.05) at 30 vs. 90° (87.8 ± 18.7 vs. 54.9 ± 12.1 s, respectively) despite the CAR not differing between angles at torque failure (30°: 0.95 ± 0.05 vs. 90°: 0.96 ± 0.03) and full occlusion of blood supply to the knee extensors. Furthermore, rectified surface EMG values of the vastus lateralis (normalized to prefatigue maximum) were also similar at torque failure (30°: 56.5 ± 12.5% vs. 90°: 58.3 ± 15.2%), whereas rectus femoris EMG activity was lower at 30° (44.3 ± 12.4%) vs. 90° (69.5 ± 25.3%). We conclude that differences in endurance at different knee angles do not find their origin in differences in central activation and blood flow but may be a consequence of muscle length-related differences in metabolic cost.

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