Analysis of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis oblique muscle activation during squat exercise with and without a variety of tools in normal adults
original abstract
PURPOSE: The present study investigated the effects of squat exercises with and without a variety of tools including a gym ball, wedge, and elastic band on the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis oblique muscles. SUBJECTS AND
METHODS: A total of twenty healthy subjects with no history of neurological, musculoskeletal injury, or pain in the lower extremities were recruited. All subjects performed four types of exercise (conventional squat exercise, squat exercise with a gym ball, squat exercise with a wedge, squat exercise with an elastic band).
RESULTS: There were no significant differences between exercises in comparison of the vastus lateralis muscle activity. In the squat exercise with a wedge, significantly higher activity of the vastus medialis oblique muscle was found compared with in the squat exercise with an elastic band.
CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the conventional squat exercise can be one of the useful interventions for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
related content
- “Activities of the Vastus Lateralis and Vastus Medialis Oblique Muscles during Squats on Different Surfaces,” an article in J Phys Ther Sci, 2013.
- “Effects of the slow speed-targeting squat exercise on the vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis muscle ratio,” an article in J Phys Ther Sci, 2015.
- “The Effect of Altering Knee Position and Squat Depth on VMO : VL EMG Ratio During Squat Exercises,” an article in 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,” an article in 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,” an article in Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2010.
These two articles on PainScience.com cite Lee 2016 as a source:
- PS Save Yourself from Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome! — Patellofemoral pain syndrome (aka runner’s knee) explained and discussed in great detail, including every imaginable self-treatment option and all the available scientific evidence
- PS Patellofemoral Pain & the Vastus Medialis Myth — Can just one quarter of the quadriceps be the key to anterior knee pain?
