Abstract
Objective. To assess the effects of chronic knee pain on neural control of the nearby quadriceps muscle. Methods. Motor-evoked potentials (MEP) in response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex, maximal M responses, patellar tendon responses, and EMG activity during maximal isometric contraction were recorded from the right vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles in 13 patients with chronic patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPS) and 13 healthy volunteers. MEP and maximal M responses were also recorded from the right extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle. Results. MEP amplitudes from VMO and VL were larger in patients with PPS than in controls. On the other hand, maximal M responses, EMG activity with maximal voluntary contraction, and tendon responses were smaller in patients than in controls. Motor-evoked responses and maximal M responses of the EDB muscle did not show significant difference between the 2 groups. Conclusions. These results indicate that chronic knee pain modulates central motor control of an adjacent muscle.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
