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1441

Vastus Medialis Obliquus and Vastus Lateralis Activity in


Open and Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises in Patients With
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: An Electromyographic Study
Simon F.T. Tang, MD, Chih-Kuang Chen, MD, Robert Hsu, MD, Shih-Wei Chou, MD, PhD,
Wei-Hsien Hong, MS, Henry L. Lew, MD, PhD
ABSTRACT. Tang SFT, Chen C-K, Hsu R, Chou S-W, ATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME (PFPS) is a
Hong W-H, Lew HL. Vastus medialis obliquus and vastus
lateralis activity in open and closed kinetic chain exercises
P common problem that affects both the athletic and nonath-
letic populations. It is among the most common knee problems
1

in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: an electro- in physically active young adults.2 PFPS is defined as retropa-
myographic study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:1441-5. tellar or peripatellar pain, or both, that results from physical
and biochemical changes in the patellofemoral joint.3 The basic
Objective: To evaluate the electromyographic activities of origin and exact pathogenesis of PFPS are unknown, but many
vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) predisposing factors have been proposed, including acute
muscles in open and closed kinetic chain exercises in subjects trauma, knee ligament injury and surgery, instability, overuse,
with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). immobilization, overweight, genetic predisposition, malalign-
Design: Case-controlled study. ment or dysfunction of the knee extensor mechanism, congen-
Setting: Rehabilitation science center in a tertiary medical ital anomalies of the patella, prolonged synovitis, recurrent
center. hemorrhage into a joint, joint infection, and repetitive intraar-
Participants: Ten patients with bilateral knee pain diag- ticular injections of corticosteroids. In many cases, however,
nosed with PFPS and 10 healthy volunteers. there are no obvious reasons for the symptoms, and there is no
Interventions: Subjects performed open kinetic chain exer- clear association between the severity of the symptoms and the
cise on an isokinetic dynamometer and closed kinetic chain radiologic and arthroscopic findings.2
exercise by squat-to-stand and stand-to-squat tasks. Surface The biomechanics of the patellofemoral joint are controlled
electromyography was done for the VMO and VL muscles. by its static and dynamic components. The primary dynamic
Main Outcome Measures: VMO/VL ratios were calculated components are the 4 parts of the quadriceps femoris complex,
after normalization of muscle activities. with accessory input from the iliotibial band, the adductor
Results: The VMO/VL ratios of PFPS subjects were signif- magnus and longus, the pes anserine group, and the biceps
icantly lower than were those of unimpaired subjects during femoris. Some theories for the origin of nontraumatic gradual
knee isokinetic closed kinetic chain exercises (p ⫽ .047). onset of PFPS are: (1) neuromuscular imbalances of the vastus
However, there was no statistical difference in VMO/VL ratio medialis obliquus (VMO) and the vastus lateralis (VL) mus-
between subjects with and without PFPS during closed kinetic cles; (2) tightness of the lateral knee retinaculum, hamstrings,
chain exercises (p ⫽ .623). Maximum VMO/VL ratio was iliotibial band, and gastrocnemius; and (3) overpronation of the
obtained at 60° knee flexion in closed kinetic chain exercise. subtalar joint. Excessive lateral tracking of the patella in the
Conclusion: In closed kinetic chain exercises, more selec- trochlear groove of the femur is believed to be caused by the
tive VMO activation can be obtained at 60° knee flexion. previously mentioned factors. Lateral excessive tracking of the
Maximal VMO/VL ratio was observed at this knee flexion patella is evident in many people with PFPS.1,3,4
angle, and muscle contraction intensity was also greatest. The Q angle deserves special mention because a large Q
Key Words: Electromyography; Exercise; Femur; Knee; angle is often implicated as a predisposing factor in patients
Pain; Patella; Rehabilitation. with PFPS. It is defined as the angle between the quadriceps
© 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medi- force vector and the patella-tibial tubercle axis.
cine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and However, there is no consensus about its importance, and it
Rehabilitation has not been shown to vary significantly between symptomatic
and asymptomatic subjects.3
As stated earlier, PFPS has multifactorial causes. Many
rehabilitation strategies have been implemented for patients
with PFPS. In general, the goals of patellofemoral rehabilita-
From the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Tang, Chen, Chou, tion are to maximize quadriceps strength while minimizing the
Hong) and Orthopedic Surgery (Hsu), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tao-Yuan,
Taiwan; and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care
patellofemoral joint reaction forces and stress.5-10 Strengthen-
System, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (Lew). ing of the quadriceps mechanism is typically performed in the
Accepted in revised form January 3, 2001. last 30° of knee extension, but the selectivity of this method for
Supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China (grant no. strengthening only the VMO is debatable. Recent works by
NSC85-2331-B-182-064).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research
Steinkamp et al9 indicates that the best method to strengthen
supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any the quadriceps group while incurring the least patellofemoral
organization with which the author(s) is/are associated. joint reaction force and stress is with a short arc (⬍45° flexion
Reprint requests to Simon F.T. Tang, MD, Dept of Physical Medicine and Reha- to extension), closed kinetic chain exercise.9 Selective VMO
bilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu-Shin St, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333,
Taiwan, e-mail: fttang@adm.cgmh.org.tw.
strengthening may possibly be enhanced by hip adduction
0003-9993/01/8210-6419$35.00/0 exercises, which may also give the VMO a stable origin from
doi:10.1053/apmr.2001.26252 which to contract. Hanten and Schulthies11 showed that during

Arch Phys Med Rehabil Vol 82, October 2001


1442 EXERCISE AND PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME, Tang

hip adduction, the electrical activity of the VMO is signifi-


cantly greater than that of the VL. Therefore, hip adductor
contraction, in conjunction with quadriceps sets and straight
leg raises, is recommended to facilitate VMO strengthening.
This study assessed the VMO and VL concentric and eccen-
tric contraction performances in isokinetic open kinetic chain
and closed kinetic chain exercises. The open kinetic chain
exercise was performed with a KIN-COM isokinetic dyna-
mometer.a The closed kinetic chain exercise was performed
with squat-to-stand and stand-to-squat exercises. The raw elec-
tromyographic data for VMO and VL muscles were rectified
and quantified. VMO/VL ratios were calculated after normal-
ization of muscle activities.

METHODS

Subjects
Ten subjects (5 women, 5 men; age range, 21–32yr; mean,
25.7yr) with asymptomatic knees and 10 subjects (6 women, 4
men; age range, 19 – 48yr; mean, 28.2yr) with bilateral PFPS
were included in the study. Asymptomatic subjects were de-
fined as individuals with pain-free knees who had never had
significant knee or lower extremity pathology or surgery.
The symptomatic subjects had no history of direct trauma to
the patellofemoral joint, but had bilateral anterior knee pain for
a minimum of 6 weeks. The pain was elicited by squatting, stair
climbing, kneeling, and prolonged sitting. Patients with con-
comitant ligamentous injury were excluded. Examinations of
the knees with merchant’s views confirmed patellofemoral
malalignment. The symptomatic group was diagnosed and ex-
amined by the same physiatrist (SFTT).

Procedures
Subjects performed all tasks under instructions from an
engineer at the Rehabilitation Science & Engineering Service
Center of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. Informed
consent was obtained from all subjects before they entered the
study.
To prepare the area for attachment of surface electromyo-
Fig 1. Closed kinetic chain exercise by squatting and standing.
graphic electrodes, the anterior thigh and medial tibial crest
were cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. Surface electrodes were
centered on the muscle bellies of the VMO and distal VL, as thigh straps were fastened for stabilization. Quadriceps con-
described by Basmajian and Blumenstein.12 A MyoSystem centric and eccentric contractions were recorded at between 0°
200b was used to acquire electromyographic signals from 9 and 90° of knee flexion. All the tests were done at the angular
channels, of which 8 signals were from the surface electrodes velocity of 120°/s. Both legs of symptomatic subjects were
placed on the lower limbs. The last channel was used as an tested, with the order of testing chosen randomly. After testing
event marker. The raw electromyographic signals were band- there was a 5-minute cool-down period, after which ice was
pass filtered (15–500Hz) and sampled at 1000Hz. The signals applied for 10 minutes to the examined knees.
were rectified and low-pass filtered (cutoff frequency, 6Hz). In the closed kinetic chain exercise, stand-to-squat, and
This system used bipolar gold-plated surface electrodes to squat-to-stand tasks were repeated twice in our gait laboratory
collect electromyographic signals. with a Vicon 370 motion analysis systemc with 6 cameras
Both legs of subjects in the symptomatic group were tested. containing infrared light-emitting diodes. Reflective markers
Because there is no evidence of a relation between unilateral were placed on the sacrum, bilateral anterosuperior iliac spines,
patellofemoral dysfunction and leg dominance, we tested ran- greater trochanters, anterior thighs, medial and lateral malleoli,
domly chosen legs of the asymptomatic subjects. Every subject anterior tibia, dorsum of the foot, fifth metatarsal heads, and
in both groups was tested under 2 exercise modes, the open posterior heels. Motion analysis of the lower extremity was
kinetic chain and the closed kinetic chain. then determined for the sagittal plane. The trunk was kept
In the isokinetic open kinetic chain exercise, a KIN-COM upright and, to obtain better balance control, the subjects were
isokinetic dynamometer was used. The testing procedure began asked to hold the 2 arms of a walker (fig 1). Quadriceps
with a 5-minute warm-up on a stationary bicycle, followed by eccentric contraction intensity was recorded during squatting,
stretching of the quadriceps, hamstrings, iliotibial band, and whereas quadriceps concentric contraction intensity was re-
calf musculatures. Subjects’ positioning on the dynamometer corded during squatting-to-standing tasks. The contraction in-
was according to the manufacturer’s protocol, with the the back tensities were recorded by surface polyelectromyography. Sub-
supported and the hip flexed to approximately 80°. Trunk and jects performed all the tasks at a speed comfortable to them.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil Vol 82, October 2001


EXERCISE AND PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME, Tang 1443

In the normalization process of muscle activity, subjects


were positioned at the dynamometer. Maximum voluntary iso-
metric contraction of the quadriceps was performed from 90°
knee flexion to complete full knee extension at 15° intervals,
and the electromyographic activities of the VMO and VL were
recorded. Each maximum contraction was done for 5 seconds.
In the PFPS group, we found that when knee flexion angle
increased, knee pain became more obvious, and there was less
quadriceps isometric contraction intensity. The quadriceps iso-
metric contraction activities were similar in both groups during
complete knee extension. Therefore, the maximum quadriceps
isometric contraction data obtained during complete knee ex-
tension was used as the reference value.
Normalized VMO and VL electromyographic data obtained
in both exercise modes were presented as the VMO/VL ratio.
A ratio greater than 1 meant that the VMO was exerting a Fig 2. VMO/VL ratio of quadriceps contraction in isokinetic exer-
cise. Abbreviations: con, concentric; ecc, eccentric.
larger muscular contractile intensity than was the VL. In both
exercise modes, electromyographic data were obtained at 15°
intervals (15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°). During knee flexion
from 0° to 90°, 6 electromyographic data points could be VMO/VL ratios were smaller in the PFPS symptomatic
obtained for quadriceps eccentric contractions. The same data group (p ⫽ .047). When the concentric contractions in both
acquisition applied for quadriceps concentric contractions. Six groups were compared with eccentric contractions, the con-
electromyographic data points could be obtained during knee tractile intensity was smaller for concentric contraction
extension from ⫺90° to 0°. forces (p ⫽ .015).
In the closed kinetic chain exercise during stand-to-squat
Statistical Analysis and squat-to-stand tasks, VMO/VL ratios greater than 1
In the symptomatic group, the mean VMO/VL ratio for each were observed during concentric contractions at 60°
subject was calculated by averaging the VMO/VL ratio of both (1.052 ⫾ .430) and 90° (1.025 ⫾ .204) of knee flexion for
legs. SYSTAT softwared and repeat-measures analysis of vari- the PFPS symptomatic group. Eccentric contraction with
ance were used to analyze the VMO/VL ratios between asymp- VMO/VL ratio greater than 1 was noted during 60° (1.153 ⫾
tomatic and symptomatic subjects in both exercise modes. .299) and 75° (1.054 ⫾ .298) of knee flexion for the same
Statistical significance was set at p less than .05. group. In the asymptomatic group, VMO/VL ratio greater
than 1 was observed only for eccentric contraction during
RESULTS 60° of knee flexion (1.080 ⫾ .233) (table 2, fig 3). As in
the open kinetic chain exercise, we compared VMO/VL
In the open kinetic chain exercise with the dynamometer,
ratios in both groups; however, no statistical significance
we observed a VMO/VL ratio greater than 1 during eccen-
was found, nor was there statistical significance when con-
tric contractions at 75° (1.083 ⫾ .582) and 90° (1.105 ⫾
centric and eccentric contractions from both groups were
.695) of knee flexion in the PFPS symptomatic group. In the
compared.
asymptomatic group, VMO/VL ratio was greater than 1
during eccentric contractions at 60° (1.030 ⫾ .380), 75° DISCUSSION
(1.138 ⫾ .551), and 90° (1.259 ⫾ .916) of knee flexion
(table 1, fig 2). When the entire symptomatic group, which PFPS is frequently encountered in physically active young
includes concentric and eccentric contractions in all angles, adults and in sports injury clinics. The causes for this syndrome
was compared with the asymptomatic group, we found that remain enigmatic.13 Witvrouw et al14 proposed that a shortened
quadriceps muscle, an altered VMO muscle reflex response
time, a decreased explosive strength, and a hypermobile patella
had a significant correlation with the incidence of patellofemo-
Table 1: VMO/VL Ratio of Quadriceps Muscle Contraction in KIM- ral pain and are risk factors for PFPS. Predisposing factors such
COM Open Chain Isokinetic Exercises as repetitive loading of the patellofemoral joint, trauma, con-
Normal Asymptomatic genital anomalies, and malalignment of the patella are also
Knee
PFPS Symptomatic Subjects Subjects believed to cause PFPS.1,2
Flexion Concentric Eccentric Concentric Eccentric
(deg) Contraction* Contraction† Contraction† Contraction§
Table 2: VMO/VL Ratio of Quadriceps Muscle Contraction in
15° .803 ⫾ .149 .862 ⫾ .177 .945 ⫾ .227 .932 ⫾ .320 Closed Kinetic Chain Exercise by Squatting and Standing
30° .832 ⫾ .160 .875 ⫾ .173 .857 ⫾ .209 .942 ⫾ .387
45° .877 ⫾ .145 .897 ⫾ .188 .884 ⫾ .154 .994 ⫾ .304 Knee PFPS Subjects Asymptomatic Subjects
Flexion
60° .822 ⫾ .142 .916 ⫾ .234 .888 ⫾ .223 1.030 ⫾ .380
(deg) Concentric Eccentric Concentric Eccentric
75° .851 ⫾ .203 1.083 ⫾ .582 .923 ⫾ .164 1.138 ⫾ .551
90° .831 ⫾ .255 1.105 ⫾ .695 .959 ⫾ .295 1.259 ⫾ .916 15° .793 ⫾ .307 .881 ⫾ .405 .726 ⫾ .197 .807 ⫾ .289
30° .889 ⫾ .222 .854 ⫾ .444 .830 ⫾ .235 .833 ⫾ .354
* p ⫽ .047 when comparing the entire symptomatic group, which 45° .989 ⫾ .218 .965 ⫾ .359 .932 ⫾ .224 .938 ⫾ .388
includes concentric and eccentric contractions in all angles (* and †),
60° 1.052 ⫾ .430 1.153 ⫾ .299 .980 ⫾ .265 1.080 ⫾ .233
with the asymptomatic group († and §).

p ⫽ .015 when comparing the concentric contractions in both 75° .995 ⫾ .214 1.054 ⫾ .298 .978 ⫾ .200 .985 ⫾ .234
groups (* and †), with the eccentric contractions in both groups († 90° 1.025 ⫾ .204 .972 ⫾ .276 .984 ⫾ .171 .979 ⫾ .319
and §).

Arch Phys Med Rehabil Vol 82, October 2001


1444 EXERCISE AND PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME, Tang

in significantly higher pain ratings than do concentric con-


tractions. Our results showed that the maximal VMO eccentric
contractions occurred at 75° to 90° of knee flexion. Knee pain
is usually induced in PFPS subjects during this range of motion
(ROM). With this increase in knee flexion and in quadriceps
tension, patellofemoral joint reaction force is increased over
the patellofemoral joint. A larger patellofemoral joint reaction
force may yield high articular stresses and heighten the
chances of subchondral degenerative changes.5 Although there
is a higher VMO/VL ratio generated in eccentric isokinetic
exercise during knee flexion, the clinical application of eccen-
tric contraction in VMO training should be considered cau-
tiously.
Fig 3. VMO/VL ratio of quadriceps contraction in closed kinetic
chain exercise by squatting and standing. CONCLUSION
Closed kinetic chain exercise from 0° to 60° of knee
flexion can induce maximal VMO firing, and the overall
Many rehabilitation strategies have been suggested for quad- VMO/VL ratio is lower for PFPS patients than for asymp-
riceps strengthening, especially in training the VMO. Closed tomatic subjects. However, our sample size was relatively
kinetic chain exercises, such as squatting, working with mul- small. A larger sample size is needed to verify whether
tiple joint proprioceptive reactions, and muscular cocontrac- closed kinetic chain exercise from 0° to 60° of knee flexion
tion, are generally assumed to be more functional.10,15 The is more beneficial than short arc, closed kinetic chain exer-
VMO/VL ratios in our study for squat-to-stand tasks showed cises. Further study is also needed to observe whether knee
no significant differences between asymptomatic and PFPS pain will be induced during this ROM.
subjects. This may explain why similar firing patterns of the
VMO and VL muscles in both groups were generated during References
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil Vol 82, October 2001

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