JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & MEDICINE
http://www.jssm.org
 

Research article  


THE EFFECTS OF KNEE JOINT EFFUSION ON QUADRICEPS ELECTROMYOGRAPHY DURING JOGGING

Michael R. Torry1 , Michael J. Decker1, Peter J. Millett3, J. Richard Steadman2 and William I. Sterett2


1Biomechanics Research Lab., Steadman"Hawkins Research Foundation Vail, Colorado, USA
2Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Clinic, Vail, Colorado USA
3Department of Orthopedics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA,  USA


Received 26 October 2004
Accepted 30 November 2004
Published 01 March 2005

© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2005) 4, 1 - 8
Search Google Scholar for Citing Articles


ABSTRACT
To investigate and describe the influence of intra-articular effusion on knee joint kinematics and electromyographic (EMG) profiles during jogging. Thirteen individuals underwent a 20 cc 0.9% saline insufflation of the knee joint capsule and completed 8 jogging trials. Stance phase, sagittal plane knee joint kinematics and thigh muscular EMG profiles were compared pre- and post-insufflation utilizing a paired t-test ( = 0.05). Mild knee effusion caused a reduction in vastus medialis (p = 0.005) and lateralis (p = 0.006) EMG activity. The rectus femoris, biceps femoris and medial hamstring muscles did not exhibit changes due to this protocol. There were no changes in the sagittal plane knee joint kinematic pattern. Twenty cc effusion can cause quadriceps inhibition in the vastus medialis and the vastus lateralis in otherwise healthy individuals during jogging. This study provides baseline data for the effects of mild knee joint effusion on thigh musculature during jogging.

KEY WORDS: Electromyography (EMG), kinematics, jogging, muscle inhibition, knee.


PDF (221KB)
FULL TEXT