EMG activity of the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis in their role in patellar alignment.

Using intramuscular electrodes the integrated electromyographic activity of the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis was examined in twenty normal females. The activity was recorded during the last thirty degrees of distal segment stabilized knee extension, when patellar subluxation commonly occurs. The electromyographic activity was normalized and expressed as a percentage of a maximal isometric contraction. Both muscles exhibited low levels of activity with no significant differences between the two. This study provides a quantitative method to assess whether muscular imbalance is present in patients with patellar subluxation.