Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2000
Publication Title
Clinical Biomechanics
Abstract
Objective. To use a musculoskeletal model and simulation of running to examine: (1) the influence of two commonly prescribed treatments for patellofemoral pain (vastus medialis oblique strengthening and orthoses) and (2) the functional significance of timing differences between vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis on lateral patellofemoral joint loads.
Design. A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model of the lower extremity was used to simulate running at 4 m/s.
Background. Repetitive and excessive joint loading is often associated with overuse injuries that require clinical treatments to reduce pain and restore function. Affecting one in four runners, patellofemoral pain is one of the most common injuries in running. Although conservative treatments have been reported to successfully treat patellofemoral pain, the effectiveness is often based on subjective or empirical data, which have generated disagreement on the most effective treatment.
Methods. Nine subject specific running simulations were generated and experiments were performed by applying the treatments and timing differences to the nominal simulations.
Results. Both treatments significantly reduced the average patellofemoral joint load and the vastus medialis strengthening also significantly reduced the peak patellofemoral joint load. In addition, when the vastus medialis oblique timing was delayed and advanced relative to the vastus lateralis timing, a significant increase and decrease in the joint load was observed, respectively, during the loading response.
Conclusions. Increasing vastus medialis oblique strength yielded more consistent results across subjects than the orthosis in reducing patellofemoral joint loads during running. The effect of orthoses was highly variable and sensitive to the individual subject's running mechanics. Vastus medialis oblique activation timing is an important determinant of lateral patellofemoral joint loading during the impact phase.
Relevance.These findings indicate that a reduction in patellofemoral pain may be achieved through techniques that selectively increase the vastus medialis oblique strength. Therefore, future studies should be directed towards identifying such techniques. Additionally, the functional significance of timing differences between the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis is an important consideration in patellofemoral pain treatment and orthoses may be beneficial for some patients depending on their running mechanics.
Recommended Citation
Neptune, R. R., Wright, I. C., and van den Bogert, A. J., 2000, "The Influence of Orthotic Devices and Vastus Medialis Strength and Timing on Patellofemoral Loads during Running," Clinical Biomechanics, 15(8) pp. 611-618.
DOI
10.1016/S0268-0033(00)00028-0
Version
Postprint
Publisher's Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Clinical Biomechanics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Clinical Biomechanics, 15, 8, (10-01-2000); 10.1016/S0268-0033(00)00028-0
Volume
15
Issue
8
Comments
This research was supported by NSERC of Canada, The Whitaker Foundation and Adidas America. We are thankful to Trisha Bellchamber and Phuong Ngo for collecting the experimental data.