EMG Asymetricity of Selected Knee Extensor Muscles in Sustained Squat Posture (A Yogic Posture) of Athletes in Relation to their Gender and Performance

Abstract

Squat is a popular yogic exercise or posture, most frequently used for quadriceps strengthening and rehabilitation. It is used for evaluation process or test by physiotherapists/clinicians/others associated with rehabilitation of athletes to strengthen their lower-body muscles and connective tissues after joint-related injury. It has been used extensively for therapeutic treatment of ligament lesions, patellofemoral dysfunctions, patellar subluxation and patellar dislocation etc. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of sustained squat posture (a yogic posture) of athletes among male (n1=32) and female (n2=18) with high and low performance (based upon median split method) on EMG activity of Vastus Medialis (VM) and Vastus Lateralis (VL) muscles for 120 seconds. Squatting was performed at an angle of 135o-150o because strength of knee extensor (muscles) varies between these angles and is an important consideration for the performance of numerous physical daily routine activities such as walking, running, cycling, stepping and driving including development of fundamental skills for different sports across all ages and sex. VM and VL from the Quadriceps muscle group were chosen for recording the physiological signal simultaneously from right and left leg of the subjects, as these muscles determines stress on the patellofemoral joint and stabilizes the patellar bone during squatting. Frequency and time domain variables were selected to extract meaningful information from the EMG signal using the algorithm developed in MATLAB. The selected variables were Median Frequency (MDF), Mean Frequency (MNF), Root Mean Square (RMS) and Integrated EMG (IEMG). Statistical analysis showed significant differences among gender and performance level along with significant bilateral asymmetry in these athletes. Understanding from the findings is pivotal for achieving optimal muscular strength, for the development of strength endurance and reducing the prospect of training-related injuries