Rectus femoris: its role in normal gait.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the role of the rectus femoris muscle in nondisabled gait at various walking velocities using fine-wire dynamic electromyography.


METHODS
Descriptive study. Fine-wire electromyography data were collected from the rectus femoris during level walking at four walking speeds. Rectus femoris activity patterns in the loading response phase and the pre- and initial-swing phase of the gait cycle were compared using paired t tests.


METHODS
A gait laboratory.


METHODS
Ten nondisabled adult volunteers.


METHODS
Amplitude of rectus femoris activity in the loading response phase and the pre- and initial-swing phase during walking at four speeds.


RESULTS
There was a bimodal pattern of rectus femoris activity in all subjects, at all speeds, in both phases, with high variability in the onsets, durations, and amplitudes of activity, and paired t tests revealed no significant differences (p > .05) between phases at any walking speed.


CONCLUSIONS
Activity in the rectus femoris in the pre- and initial-swing phase in nondisabled individuals at all speeds suggests that similar activity detected in individuals with stiff-legged gait may not be inappropriate.
Annaswamy
T M
TM
Harvard Medical School, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Giddings
C J
CJ
Della Croce
U
U
Kerrigan
D C
DC
D000328:Adult; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values