Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 29, Issue 2 , Pages 139-144 , February 2006

Vastus Medialis: Anatomical and Functional Considerations and Implications Based Upon Human and Cadaveric Studies

  • Richard Lefebvre, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Adjunct Professor, Département de Kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Director of R&D, Laboratoire Orthopédique Médicus, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • ,
  • Alain Leroux, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University Montréal and Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Réadaptation du Montréal Métropolitain-Site, Constance-Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
    • ,
  • Georges Poumarat, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Full Professor, U.F.R. Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives, Université Blaise Pascal, Aubière Cedex, France
    • ,
  • Bruno Galtier, MD

      Affiliations

    • Medical Doctor, Service de Rééducation Réadaptation Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Nord, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 2, France
    • ,
  • Michel Guillot, MD

      Affiliations

    • Medical Doctor, Service de Rééducation Réadaptation Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Nord, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 2, France; Associate Researcher, Laboratoire d'Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine, Place Henri Dunant, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
    • ,
  • Guy Vanneuville, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Chairman of the Laboratory, Laboratoire d'Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine, Place Henri Dunant, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
    • ,
  • Jean P. Boucher, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Full Professor, Département de Kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationSubmit requests for reprints to: Jean P. Boucher, PhD, Département de Kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal (Quebec), Canada H3C 3P8.

Received 3 March 2005 ,Accepted 30 July 2005.

References 

  1. Young A, Stokes M, Iles JF. Effects of joint pathology on muscle. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1987;219:21–27
  2. Galtier B, Guillot M, Vanneuville G. Anatomical basis of the role of vastus medialis muscle in femoro-patellar degenerative arthropathy. Surg Radiol Anat. 1995;17:7–11
  3. Goh JCH, Lee PYC, Bose K. A cadaver study of the function of the oblique part of vastus medialis. J Bone Joint Surg. 1995;77:225–231
  4. Avramidis K, Strike PW, Taylor PN, Swain ID. Effectiveness of electric stimulation of the vastus medialis muscle in the rehabilitation of patients after total knee arthroplasty. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2003;84:1850–1853
  5. Palmieri RM, Ingersoll CD, Edwards JE, Hoffman MA, Stone MB, Babington JP, et al. Arthrogenic muscle inhibition is not present in the limb contralateral to a simulated knee joint effusion. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2003;82:910–916
  6. Hopkins J, Ingersoll CD, Edwards J, Klootwyk TE. Cryotherapy and transcutaneous electric neuromuscular stimulation decrease arthrogenic muscle inhibition of the vastus medialis after knee joint effusion. J Athl Train. 2002;37:25–31
  7. Schmidt DR, Henry JH. Stress injuries of the adolescent extensor mechanism. Clin Sports Med. 1989;8:343–355
  8. Boucher JP, King MA, Lefebvre R, Pépin A. Quadriceps femoris muscle activity in patellofemoral pain syndrome. Am J Sports Med. 1992;20:527–532
  9. Karst GM, Jewett PD. Electromyographic analysis of exercises proposed for differential activation of medial and lateral quadriceps femoris muscle components. Phys Ther. 1993;73:286–299
  10. Cerny K. Vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis muscle activity ratios for selected exercises in persons with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome. Phys Ther. 1995;75:672–683
  11. Leroux A, Bélanger M, Boucher JP. Pain effect on monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflex inhibition. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1995;76:576–582
  12. Sczepanski TL, Gross MT, Duncan PW, Chandler JM. Effect of contraction type, angular velocity, and arc of motion on VMO:VL EMG ratio. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1991;14:256–262
  13. Smilie IS. The quadriceps in relation to recovery from injuries of the knee. Physiotherapy. 1949;35:53–57
  14. Lieb FJ, Perry J. Quadriceps function: an anatomical and mechanical study using amputated limbs. J Bone Joint Surg. 1968;50:1535–1548
  15. Lieb FJ, Perry J. Quadriceps function: an electromyographic study under isometric conditions. J Bone Joint Surg. 1971;53:749–758
  16. Brunet ME, Stewart GW. Patellofemoral rehabilitation. Clin Sports Med. 1989;8:319–329
  17. Henry JH. Conservative treatment of patellofemoral subluxation. Clin Sports Med. 1989;8:261–277
  18. Kramer PG. Patellar malalignment syndrome: rationale to reduce excessive lateral pressure. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1986;8:301–309
  19. Brownstein BA, Lamb RL, Mangine RE. Quadriceps torque and integrated electromyography. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1985;6:309–314
  20. Signorile JF, Kacsik D, Perry A, Robertson B, Williams R, Lowensteyn I, et al. The effect of knee and foot position on the electromyographical activity of the superficial quadriceps. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1995;22:2–9
  21. Weinstabl R, Scharf W, Firbas W. The extensor apparatus of the knee joint and its peripheral vasti: anatomic investigation and clinical relevance. Surg Radiol Anat. 1989;11:17–22
  22. Thiranagama R. Nerve supply of the VM muscle. J Anat. 1990;170:193–198
  23. Günal I, Arac S, Sahinoglu K, Birvar K. The innervation of vastus medialis obliquus. J Bone Joint Surg. 1992;74:624
  24. Lin F, Wang G, Koh JL, Hendrix RW, Zhang LQ. In vivo and noninvasive three-dimensional patellar tracking induced by individual heads of quadriceps. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36:93–101
  25. Peeler J, Cooper J, Porter MM, Thliveris JA, Anderson JE. Structural parameters of the vastus medialis muscle. Clin Anat. 2005;18:281–289
  26. Leroux A, Poumarat G, Boucher JP. Investigation of the quadriceps femoris function through electrical stimulation. J Athl Train. 1997;32:115–118

 Sources of support: This study was partially supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postgraduate Scholarships Program.

PII: S0161-4754(05)00372-6

doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.12.006

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 29, Issue 2 , Pages 139-144 , February 2006

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution