Activities of the Vastus Lateralis and Vastus Medialis Oblique Muscles during Squats on Different Surfaces
Two articles on PainSci cite Hyong 2013: 1. The Complete Guide to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome 2. Patellofemoral Pain & the Vastus Medialis Myth
original abstract †Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.
PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of squat exercises performed on different surfaces on the activity of the quadriceps femoris muscle in order to provide information on support surfaces for effective squat exercises.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Fourteen healthy subjects performed squat exercises for five seconds each on three different support surfaces: hard plates, foam, and rubber air discs. Their performance was measured using electromyography. As the subjects performed the squat exercises on each surface, data on the activity of the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis, and the vastus medials oblique/vastus lateralis ratio, were collected.
RESULTS: The activity of the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis ratio were found to be statistically significantly higher on rubber air discs than when the squats were performed on hard plates or foam.
CONCLUSION: To activate the vastus medialis obilique, and to enhance the vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis ratio, unstable surfaces that are highly unstable should be selected.
related content
- “Effects of the slow speed-targeting squat exercise on the vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis muscle ratio,” Yoo, J Phys Ther Sci, 2015.
- “Analysis of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis oblique muscle activation during squat exercise with and without a variety of tools in normal adults,” Lee et al, J Phys Ther Sci, 2016.
- “The Effect of Altering Knee Position and Squat Depth on VMO : VL EMG Ratio During Squat Exercises,” Jaberzadeh et al, Physiother Res Int, 2016.
- “Muscle activation of vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis during a dynamic leg press exercise with and without isometric hip adduction,” Peng et al, Physical Therapy in Sport, 2013.
- “The effect of closed-kinetic chain exercises and open-kinetic chain exercise on the muscle activity of vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis,” Irish et al, Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2010.
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