The effect of closed-kinetic chain exercises and open-kinetic chain exercise on the muscle activity of vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis
Two articles on PainSci cite Irish 2010: 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.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions of the lower limb. The muscle imbalance between the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles is one of the main factors leading to the development of PFPS. The disparity in research and the necessity to add to the existing literature base led to the development of this study. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 2 closed kinetic chain exercises and 1 open kinetic chain exercise on VMO and VL muscle activity. Twenty-two healthy asymptomatic individuals participated in this study. The surface electromyography (EMG) of VMO and VL was measured and used to calculate the VMO:VL ratio during 3 different quadriceps-strengthening exercises (a double leg squat with isometric hip adduction exercise, an open kinetic chain knee extension exercise, and a lunge exercise). The double leg squat with isometric hip adduction exercise was shown to produce a significantly greater VMO:VL ratio (1.14:1) than the other 2 exercises (p = 0.015 and p = 0.005). The open kinetic chain knee extension exercises produced significantly greater activation of VL than the lunge exercise (p = 0.001 and p = 0.036). The lunge exercise produced the VMO:VL ratio (1.18:1) closest to the idealized ratio of 1:1. Potential clinical recommendations can be made proposing the lunge exercise as a key tool in early rehabilitation when restoring preferential VMO:VL ratio is essential. The double leg squat with isometric hip adduction exercise would be useful in maintaining correct patella tracking and selectively strengthening VMO.
related content
- “Activities of the Vastus Lateralis and Vastus Medialis Oblique Muscles during Squats on Different Surfaces,” Hyong et al, J Phys Ther Sci, 2013.
- “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.
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