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Electromyographic analysis of a modified maneuver for quadriceps femoris muscle setting with co‐contraction of the hamstrings
Author(s) -
Nakajima Masaaki,
Kawamura Kenji,
Takeda Isao
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-0266(02)00193-6
Subject(s) - quadriceps femoris muscle , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , quadriceps muscle , electromyography , muscle contraction , contraction (grammar) , physical therapy , isometric exercise , anatomy
A „quadriceps femoris muscle setting” is isometric quadriceps femoris exercise which can be widely used in early knee rehabilitation. However this exercise cannot obtain enough co‐contraction of the hamstrings. Isolated quadriceps femoris contraction in knee extension imposes severe strain to anterior cruciate ligament. We succeeded in developing a simple training maneuver that is effective in obtaining co‐contraction of the hamstrings—a modified maneuver for the quadriceps femoris muscle setting with the contralateral lower limb raised (MQS). In this study, we analyzed the effect of this maneuver by EMG quantification. Twenty‐eight healthy young adult men performed sequential trials consisting of normal quadriceps femoris muscle setting (NQS) and MQS. Electromyographic activity was recorded from surface electrodes on the gluteus maximus, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus and biceps femoris (long head), and normalized to values derived from maximal isometric trials. The % maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris did not vary in the each maneuver. However, the %MVIC of the hamstrings varied significantly in the MQS. This study suggests that effective co‐contraction of the hamstrings can be obtained in MQS by adjusting the load to the raised lower limb. © 2002 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.