• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.231-241
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• 2023

Purpose: Weakness of the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO), or the imbalance between VMO and vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity, is one of the most important factors in knee joint problems. Rigid taping techniques, such as patellar inhibition taping and VL inhibition taping, are frequently used in clinical practice to treat knee joint problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of three different types of taping (patellar inhibition taping (PIT), distal VL inhibition taping (DVLIT), and proximal VL inhibition taping (PVLIT)) on electromyography (EMG) activity of VMO, VL, and VMO:VL ratio during walking. Methods: Thirty-eight normal healthy subjects (38 males; mean age = 31.00 years) voluntarily participated in this study. EMG was applied to investigate muscle activation during walking. Repeated measures of ANOVA and one-way ANOVA compared the three different conditions (PIT, DVLIT, and PVLIT) for each variable. Results: VMO and VL activation were significantly increased after PTIT application, and VMO and VL activation were significantly decreased after DVLIT and PVLIT application. The VMO:VL ratio increased after the three types of taping application, but there were no significant differences among the three types of taping. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, PTIT is more effective than DVLIT and PVLIT in increasing the muscle activation of the VMO and VL during walking. Also, DVLIT is more effective for increasing the VMO:VL ratio and has beneficial effects on the imbalance between VMO and VL activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.605-613
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the VMO/VL ratio and onset timing using EMG biofeedback training over a 5-day period. Methods : Twenty-one healthy female college students with no known right knee musculoskeletal dysfunction were recruited this study. Muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography(Myosystem 1400A, Noraxon Inc., U.S.A). Statistical analysis was used two-way repeated ANOVA to know difference between the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis oblique onset timing differences, VMO/VL ratio. Results : Biofeedback training group significantly improved VMO/VL ratio and EMG activity of the vastus medialis oblique after intervention. Conclusion : These result indicate that biofeedback training on the vastus medialis oblique has effect on the VMO/VL ratio. EMG biofeedback can be recommended for the facilitation of VMO muscular recruitment.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.273-276
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the resistance conditions on the electromyography (EMG) activity ratio of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle during partial lunge exercise in healthy subjects in order to suggest the basic data of exercise intervention for such as patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Methods: The participants of this study were healthy twenty two people with no knee pain, limitation of motion and past history of operation at lower extremity. The participants performed three types of lunge 1) no resistance, 2) anterolateral 45° resistance and 3) lateral 90° respectively. The EMG activity of the VMO and VL were recorded by surface EMG and the measured data normalized by the %MVIC value was analyzed by repeated measured ANOVA. Results: The results showed that the VMO/VL EMG activity ratio during lunge with anterolateral 45° resistance was significantly higher than with no resistance and lateral 90° resistance (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in VMO, VL, and VMO/VL muscle activity between male and female subjects (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that partial lunge exercise with anterolateral 45° resistance can increase the VMO/VL muscle activity in healthy subjects. This result could be used as basic data to develop therapeutic exercise programs such as PFPS patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate onset timing of vastus medialis oblique(VMO) relative to vastus lateralis(VL) the VMO/VL electromyographic(EMG) ratio according to heel height Methods: A repeated measures design was used. Fifteen healthy female college students with no known knee musculoskeletal dysfunction were recruited this study. They carried out a standardised stair acent activity under 4 conditions; barefoot, and with heel height of 1, 3, 7 cm. Muscle activity was measured by surface EMG (Myosystem 1400A, Noraxon Inc., U.S.A). Data were analysed using $1{\times}4$ repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Onset timing differed with heel height(p<.05). However, the VMO/VL EMG ratio was not significantly difference between conditions. Conclusion: We found that 7 cm heel height delayed in VMO onset compared with 3 cm heel height during stair ascent, but no change in the relative EMG intensity of VMO and VL as measured by th VMO/VL ratio. The findings indicate that high-heeled shoes may have disadvantages in knee stability because of delayed onset of VMO. Due to a lack of knee joint stability, wearing of high heeled shoes should be avoided.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.302-306
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate comparisons of vastus medialis (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle activities according to different heights during drop landing in flatfooted adults. Methods: Fifteen subjects with a flat foot arch and 15 subjects with a normal feet arch were participated. Subjects performed a double limb drop landing task from 20, 40, and 60 cm heights. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activities of the VMO and VL during drop landing. Results: There were significant differences of muscle activities in the VMO, VL, and the VMO and VL ratio between groups. The electromyography values of VMO, VL, and the VMO and VL ratio in the normal group were significantly greater than in the flat foot group, and muscle activities and the VMO and VL ratio significantly increased with landing heights in the both groups. Conclusion: Our results indicated that muscle activity patterns of VOM and VL in the flat foot group were lower at heights than in the normal group, so calf tightness was negative effects on balance and gait ability, so assessment of muscle activation patterns in the knee extensors should be considered during exercise and treatment of flat feet.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate electromyographic(EMG) activity of vastus medialis oblique(VMO) and vastus lateralis(VL) following the application of patellar taping during stair stepping. Methods: Both VMO-VL onset timing and VMO/VL ratio of 15 participants with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) were measured using an surface EMG uint(Myosystem 1400A, Noraxon Inc., USA). The measurements were taken under three conditions in random order of patellar taping, placebo taping, and no-taping. Data were analysed using $1{\times}3$ repeated measures ANOVA. Results: There was a significant difference with patellar taping on VMO/VL amplitude compared with the placebo taping and no-taping conditions during stair stepping, but no significant difference on VMO-VL onset timing. Conclusion: These result indicate that patellar taping on the vastus medialis oblique has effect on the VMO/VL ratio. Increased values of VMO/VL ratio may contribute to patellar realignment and explain the mechanism of pain reduction following patellar taping in participants with PFPS.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of squatting with different foot positions on the muscle activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles in subjects with genu varum. Methods: Thirty four subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activation of the VMO and VL muscles at the knee angles ($15^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$) at three foot positions (internal rotation, neutral position, external rotation) during squatting. Results: Muscle activation differences at different knee angles and foot positions differed significantly between the VMO and VL muscles in both the varus and normal groups. In addition, there was a significant difference according to the knee angles with the foot in external rotation in the VMO and VL ratio. In the varus group, however, the VMO and VL ratio were significantly different only with the feet in internal rotation. In the muscle activation changes of the knee angle differences in the foot position, there was no significant difference in the varus group, but both the VMO and VL muscles were significant different in the normal group. Conclusion: In both groups, regardless of the foot position, muscle activation of the VMO and VL muscles increased with increasing knee flexion angle. In the normal group, when squatting with the feet in external rotation, the VMO and VL muscles activations increased with increasing knee angle. In the varus group, however, the foot position did not affect the VMO or VL muscle activation. This study shows that subjects with genu varum and normal subjects have different VMO and VL muscle activation patterns during squat exercises.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2004

Most exercise for Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). Although open chain knee extension exercises are effective for increasing overall quadriceps strength, they are not always indicated for PFPS rehabilitation. This study was designed to identify the effect of combined posture of lower extremity on Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus lateralis muscle (VL) and VMO during static squat exercises. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury and their Q-angle was within a normal range. They were asked to perform static squat exercises in five various postures using their lower extremities. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in five exercises by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the five postures of the lower extremities were compared using one way ANOVA with repeated measures. Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that exercise 3 and exercise 5 produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios than exercise 1 (p<.05). When the static squat exercise was combined with hip adduction and toes pointed outwardly, the EMG activity of VMO/VL rates was increased. The EMG activity of VMO/VL ratio was highest during static squat exercises performed on a decline squat. These results haveimportant implications for progressive and selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2016

Purpose: Muscle imbalance around the knee region, especially quadriceps imbalance, is considered one of the main contributing factors to the development and progression of knee dysfunction based on the changes observed via electromyography (EMG). This study aimed to investigate the effect of vastus lateralis (VL) inhibition taping using non-elastic tape on the EMG activity of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and VL during isometric knee extension. Method: Thirty-three healthy young adults (11 males and 22 females) were recruited. With and without VL inhibition taping, the participants performed isometric knee extension in the sitting position for a total of 7 seconds. Result: VMO/VL EMG ratio significantly increased after VL inhibition taping (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that VL inhibition taping may contribute to VL inhibition and may help improve VMO/VL ratio in young adults. We expect VL inhibition taping to be useful in individuals with greater VL than VMO activity

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.361-368
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of isometric hip adduction and abduction on the muscle activities of vastus medialis oblique(VMO) and vastus lateralis(VL) during leg squat exercises. This study consisted of 21 healthy subjects who had no medical history of anterior knee pain or lower extremity disorders. The ball and belt were used to isometrically adduct and abduct the hip joint during the leg squat exercise, respectively. The surface electromyograms of VMO and VL were analyzed, and the findings were used to calculate the VMO:VL ratio during 3 different quadriceps-strengthening exercises(leg squat, LS leg squat with isometric hip adduction, LSHD leg squat with isometric hip abduction, LSHB). The muscle activities of VMO and VL and the VMO:VL ratios were compared using the paired t-test with Bonferroni adjustment. The results showed that the muscle activities of VMO and VL during LSHD were greater than those during LSHB. The VMO:VL ratio was the highest during LSHD. This finding suggests that LSHD using a ball is more effective than LS and LSHB in selectively increasing the muscle activities of VMO. Therefore, we suggest that leg squat exercise with isometric hip adduction using a ball would be useful for maintaining correct patella tracking and for selectively strengthening VMO.