Quadriceps Femoris Activation Changes in Genu varum: A Possible Biomechanical Factor in the Pathogenesis of Osteoarthrosis
✍ Scribed by R. Marks; J.S. Percy; J. Semple; S. Kumar
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1994
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 358 KB
- Volume
- 170
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-5193
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✦ Synopsis
This study was designed to determine whether the presence of an alignment deformity of the lower leg, known as genu varum, causes abnormalities in individual- or group-activation of the surrounding knee extensors, a situation which might accelerate knee deterioration. Nine healthy women with normal tibial alignment were compared with nine age-matched healthy women with genu varum. The outcome measure of maximal quadriceps femoris activity was recorded during successive maximal concentric isometric and isokinetic contractions of the knee extensors performed on a dynamometer using surface electromyography. The results showed that, taken as a whole, the percentage utilization of quadriceps motor units was higher for those subjects with genu varum ((p<0 \cdot 01)). These findings demonstrate that the extensors surrounding a varus knee might function less efficiently than those surrounding a normally aligned knee. As such they suggest that pathological force generation across a varus knee might be caused, in part, by associated alterations in quadriceps tension generating capacity.