title: Vastus medialis activation during knee extension exercises: evidence for exercise prescription.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knee extension exercise is an important part of knee rehabilitation. Clinicians prescribe non-weight bearing exercise initially and progress patients to weight bearing exercise once they can perform a straight leg raise (SLR).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Compare VM activation during a SLR and weight bearing exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-way repeated measures design.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  One SLR exercise and 6 weight-bearing knee extension exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electromyographic amplitudes for the VM expressed as a percent maximum voluntary isometric contraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SLR had greater activation than the single leg stance and bilateral squat exercises. The step-up and unilateral leg press exercises had the greatest activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SLR performance can be an important indicator for exercise progression. These results provide foundational knowledge to assist clinicians with exercise prescription.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Georgia, Dept of Phys Therapy, Augusta, GA, USA. LBolgla@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bolgla
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.forename: Terry R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Malone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D014481:United States; D014891:Weight Lifting