Comparing the Effects of Eight Weeks of Running on a Treadmill and on the Ground on Electrical Muscle Activity of Young Men With Genu Varum

Abstract

Background and Aims Weakness in the knee muscles and other components of the knee joint can cause various complications, including the genu varum. This study aims to investigate the effects of eight weeks of running on a treadmill and on the ground on muscle activities in individuals with genu varum. Methods This is a quasi-experimental and laboratory study. Forty-five young men with genu varus were randomly divided into three groups: control, ground-based training, and treadmill training. Running exercises were performed for eight weeks in the training groups. The electrical activity of selected muscles was recorded by an electromyography system. For statistical analysis, repeated measures analysis of variance was used. The significant level was set at 0.05. Results In the treadmill training group, the electrical activity of the biceps femoris and gastrocnemius medialis muscles increased significantly after training during the heel contact phase. In the ground-based training group, the electrical activity of the biceps femoris and vastus latralis muscles significantly increased after training. In the swing phase of running, the electrical activity of the tibialis anterior, gluteus medius, and semitendinosus muscles was also significantly increased after training in the ground-based training group Conclusion It seems that running on a treadmill may have been effective in improving muscle activity and preventing the progression of the knee genu varum.