Impact of Tensor Fascia Lata Stretch on Vastus Medialis Obliqus Activity

Overview

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most typical causes of anterior knee pain in adolescents and young adults under the age of 50.It is believed that imbalanced action between quadriceps components, is the most contributing cause of PFPS.Investigating exercises that increase VMO muscle activation and enhance the ratio between VMO and VL have been a standardized target in literature.

Participants will have the assessed limb ready by shaving the hair on thigh and using alcohol swabs to clean the area from any residues. For the VMO, a surface EMG electrode will be placed 4 cm superior and 4 cm medial to the supromedial boarder of patella at approximately 55 degrees to the long axis of the femur. As for the VL, the electrode will be placed 10 cm superior and 6-8 cm lateral to the superior lateral boarder of the patella and orientated 15 degrees to the vertical. All electrodes are self-adhesive (Figure 8) and will be connected to EMG sensors that will be attached and secured by double-sided tape.Each participant will perform three consecutive squats with 5 seconds interval break between each repetition. The squat depth will be kept at 50 degrees knee flexion. Mean muscle activity from three squat repetitions of VMO and VL is recorded and VMO:VL ratio is calculated. Afterward, each participant will perform the TFL stretch and repeat the three squats again.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Central Contacts