Hosseini Seyyed Hossein, Farahmand Farzam
Department of Sports Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Heliyon. 2024 Dec 6;10(24):e41012. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41012. eCollection 2024 Dec 30.
To date, no specific exercises have been designed to selectively strengthen the vastus medialis muscle. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to provide a clear answer to the question: Is it truly impossible to strengthen the vastus medialis independently of the entire quadriceps muscle group? Methods: Thirty-three females with lateral patellar compression syndrome were randomly divided into 2 groups: one focused on selective strengthening of the vastus medialis (n = 16) and the other on general strengthening of the quadriceps (n = 17). The intervention lasted 8 weeks. Muscles cross-sectional area and electrical activity were assessed using ultrasound and electromyography, respectively. Data analysis was done using independent and dependent t-tests.
In the selective strengthening group, significant increases were observed in the activity and cross-sectional area of the vastus medialis, as well as in the ratios of vastus medialis/vastus lateralis activity and cross-section from pre-to post-intervention (P < 0.01). In the general strengthening group, significant increases were noted in the cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis and the activity of both muscles, with a greater increase in the vastus lateralis (P < 0.01).
Contrary to previous evidence, our findings demonstrate that preferential activation and selective strengthening of the vastus medialis muscle, independent of the other quadriceps components, is achievable through the training protocol employed in this study.
迄今为止，尚未设计出专门用于选择性强化股内侧肌的特定练习。因此，本研究的目的是明确回答以下问题：是否真的不可能在不依赖整个股四头肌群的情况下强化股内侧肌？方法：33名患有外侧髌股关节挤压综合征的女性被随机分为两组：一组专注于股内侧肌的选择性强化（n = 16），另一组专注于股四头肌的整体强化（n = 17）。干预持续8周。分别使用超声和肌电图评估肌肉横截面积和电活动。数据分析采用独立样本t检验和配对样本t检验。
在选择性强化组中，干预前后股内侧肌的活动、横截面积以及股内侧肌/股外侧肌活动和横截面积的比值均有显著增加（P < 0.01）。在整体强化组中，股外侧肌的横截面积以及两块肌肉的活动均有显著增加，股外侧肌的增加幅度更大（P < 0.01）。
与先前的证据相反，我们的研究结果表明，通过本研究采用的训练方案，可以实现独立于其他股四头肌成分的股内侧肌的优先激活和选择性强化。
