Summary
The role played by the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis obliquus in their alignment of the patella during maximal isometric quadriceps contractions was studied by electromyography in 28 patients with unilateral symptoms of the patellofemoral pain syndrome. Eleven knees were classified as subluxation of the patella and 17 as idiopathic chondromalacia patellae. The muscular activity pattern was the same in the two groups but decreased as compared with the contralateral nonsymptomatic knees. However, none of the groups revealed differences in the activity of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis obliquus suggesting muscular imbalance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Basmajian JV (1967) Muscle alive, 2nd edn. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 220–222
Basmajian JV (1970) Re-education of vastus medialis: a misconception. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 51:245–247
Basmajian JV, Harden TP, Regenos EM (1972) Integrated actions of the four heads of quadriceps femoris: an electromyographic study. Anat Rec 172:15–20
Bentley G (1970) Chondromalacia patellae. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 52:221–232
Bentley G (1978) The surgical treatment of chondromalacia patellae. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 60:74–81
Bose K, Kanagasuntheram R, Osman MBH (1980) Vastus medialis oblique: an anatomic and physiologic study. Orthopaedics 3:880–883
Brewerton DA (1955) The function of the vastus medialis muscle. Ann Phys Med 2:146–168
Carson WG, James SL, Larson RL, Singer KM, Winternitz WW (1984) Patellofemoral disorders: physical and radiographic evaluation. Clin Orthop 185:165–177
Devas MB (1960) Chondromalacia of the patella. Clin Orthop 18:54–61
Ficat RP, Hungerford DS (1977) Disorders of the patellofemoral joint. Masson, Paris, pp 22–35
Fox TA (1975) Dysplasia of the quadriceps mechanism. Surg Clin North Am 55:199–226
Francis RS, Scott DE (1974) Hypertrophy of the vastus medialis in knee extension. Phys Ther 54:1066–1070
Goodfellow J, Hungerford DS (1976) Patellofemoral joint mechanics and pathology. 1. Functional anatomy of the patellofemoral joint. 2. Chondromalacia patellae. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 58:287–299
Haffajee D, Moritz U, Svantesson G (1972) Isometric knee extension strength as a function of joint angle, muscle length and motor unit activity. Acta Orthop Scand 43:138–147
Hallen LG, Lindahl O (1967) Muscle function in knee extension. An EMG study. Acta Orthop Scand 38:434–444
Hughston JC (1968) Subluxation of the patella. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 50:1003–1026
Hughston JC (1972) Reconstruction of the extensor mechanism for subluxating patella. J Sports Med 1:1–6
Insall J, Falvo KA, Wise DW (1976) Chrondromalacia patellae. A prospective study. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 58:1–8
Insall J (1982) Patellar pain. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 64:147–152
Klemar B, Pedersen E, Tørring J (1981) A new electronic device for quantitation of EMG activity. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 51:114–116
Lieb FJ, Perry J (1968) Quadriceps function. An anatomical and mechanical study using amputated limbs. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 50:1535–1548
Lich FJ, Perry J (1971) Quadriceps function. An electromyographic study under isometric conditions. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 53:749–758
Mariani PP, Caruso I (1979) An electromyographic investigation of subluxation of the patella. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 61:169–171
McKeever DC (1954) Recurrent dislocation of the patella. Clin Orthop 3:55–60
Outerbridge RE, Dunlop JAW (1975) The problem of chondromalacia patella. Clin Orthop 110:177–196
Reynolds L, Levin TA, Medeiros JM, Adler NS, Hallum A (1983) EMG activity of the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis in their role in patellar alignment. Am J Phys Med 62:61–70
Smilie IS (1978) Injuries of the knee joint, 5th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 3–5
Speakman HGB, Weisberg J (1977) The vastus medialis controversy. Physiotherapy 63:249–254
Stratford P (1981) Electromyography of the quadriceps femoris muscles in subjects with normal knees and acutely effused knees. Phys Ther 62:279–283
Wiles P, Andrews PS, Devas MB (1956) Chondromalacia of the patella. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 38:95–113
Wiles P, Andrews PS, Bremner RA (1960) Chondromalacia of the patella. A study of later results of excision of articular cartilage. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 42:65–74
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Møller, B.N., Krebs, B., Tidemand-Dal, C. et al. Isometric contractions in the patellofemoral pain syndrome. Arch. Orth. Traum. Surg. 105, 24–27 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00625655
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00625655