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2018 Electromyographic Activity of Hamstrings and Quadriceps Muscle during Jumping and Landing: Pilot Study Jayla Greene University of North Dakota
Brecca Wahlund University of North Dakota
Jay Mittlieder University of North Dakota
Adam Lutz University of North Dakota
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Recommended Citation Greene, Jayla; Wahlund, Brecca; Mittlieder, Jay; and Lutz, Adam, "Electromyographic Activity of Hamstrings and Quadriceps Muscle during Jumping and Landing: Pilot Study" (2018). Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects. 669. https://commons.und.edu/pt-grad/669
This Scholarly Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Physical Therapy at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Electromyographic Activity of Hamstrings and Quadriceps Muscle During Jumping and Landing: Pilot Study
by
Jayla Greene, SPT Bachelor of Sc.ience in General Studies University of North Dakota, 2017
Brecca Wahlund, SPT Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Psychology North Dakota State University, 2016
Jay Mittlieder, SPT Bachelor of Science in Psychology University of North Dakota, 2016
Adam Lutz, SPT Bachelor of Science in General Studies University of North Dakota, 2017
A Scholarly Project Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the
Department of Physical Therapy
School of Medicine
University of North Dakota
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Grand Forks, North Dakota November, 2018 Electro myographic Activity of Hamstrings and Quadriceps
Muscle During Jumping and Landing: Pilot Study I I\. 1":'\ SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ~ U "'t2/ & HEALTH SCIENCES • By: Jayla Greene, Adam Lutz, Jay Mittleider, Brecca Wahlund THE UNIVE RSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA f
Abstract Results Experiments Conclusions
Background and Purpose. The purpose of this pi lot study was to see if there was a In single jump landing, both the male and female participants demonstrated Figure I. Quadriceps and Hamstring Activity During Single Jump Research has shown that the quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio is difference in amount of electromyographic (EMG) activity in the quadriceps (vast us higher levels of quadriceps activity than hamstring activity as measured by Landing medialis and vastus latcralis) compared to amount ofEMG activity in the hamstrings percent maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) (Figure I). The %MVC of significant in preventing ACL injuries, and it requires a balance between (biceps femoris and S(:mitendinosus) muscles in active male and female subjects during quadriceps activity in both female participants was higher than in males. TI1e the two major muscle !,'TOups, since the han1strings act to prevent the vertical jwnping and landing. Jn addition, we looked at the amount of knee flexion that vastus lateralis demonstrated a greater %MVC contr action than the vastus anterior translation of the tibia on the femur. Our findings were not occurred shortly ailer landing from a vertical jump. JO • ZP MS • OO medialis in the female participants. The quadriceps muscle that showed the JO ard zp are WUII..,• ; MS ;and 00 ,.... r.....-.. Methods "' significant enough to make a generalized statement about the recruitment EMG activity was recorded using a Noraxont TeleMyo DTS telemetry unit with a lowest an1ount of activation in both males and females was the vastus lateralis. of the quadriceps versus hamstring muscle !,'TOUps. However, since this is a The hamstring muscle that showed the lowest %MVC was the semitendinosus. sampling r ate of 1 kHz. EMG data was recorded during vertical jwnping and landing. "" pilot study. We recommend further exploration into the activation time and EMG activity in the quadriceps muscle and hamstring muscles were monitored during The ratio of the quadriceps to the hamstring muscles for the single jump in {) > recruitment in addition to the muscle strength. the experiment. The subject was also captured on video using the NiNox 125/250 FPS males was 2.38:1 as compared to 4.42: 1 in females. ::;; camera system. Subjects consisted oftwo male and two female athletes in good physical 0 .- condition with no previous knee pathologies. The male subjects demonstrated similar degrees of knee flexion upon landing, ~ 60 ~ Results with one subject at 95.9 degrees and the other at 99 degrees (Figure 2). Female a.~ Differences were found in the quadriceps to hamstrings ratio when comparing female to subjects had more variable knee flexion upon landing, with one showing I 09 .., male participants in both single jump (Female 4.42: 1, Male 2.38:1) and triplejwnp degrees and the other 74.6 degrees of knee flexion. landing (Female 5.46:1, Male 1.90: 1). Females generally showed higher percent of maximal voluntary contraction in the quadriceps than the males when compared for both During triple jump landing, female participants demonstrated the greatest "' jwnps. Remarkable differences in knee flexion upon landing were not found between genders in either test. EMG activity in the vastus medialis (Figure 3). Once again, the smallest VM VL lBF l -1ST 1 Conclusion %MVC activity was demonstrated in the semitendinosus for both gender 1 The results of this study showed quadriceps domi nance in females as compared to males groups. TI1e ratio of the quadriceps to the hamstring muscles in males was when landing from a jump. Previous studies have theorized that this level of dominance 1.9: I as compared to 5.46: I for females. 1n the triple jump, the females had a creates tensile force on the ACL, leading to increased incidence of ACL tears. StrenbJth higher degree of knee flexion as compared to their results in the single j ump, Vast us Medialis (VM), Vastus Lateralis (VL), Biceps Femoris (BF), training focused on hamstring activation with a proper quadriceps to hamstrings ratio and as compared to males (Figure 4). The female subjects demonstrated 103 Semitendinosus (ST) should be implemented when preventing ACL injuries especially in the female degrees and 101 degrees of maximal knee flexion upon landing from the population. Fwther research is needed to confinn these conclusions and demonstrate j umps. The male subjects demonstrated 95.9 de!,>Tees and 90.3 degrees of knee cli nical relevance. flexion upon landing. Figure 2. QuadricctJS and Hamstring Activity During Triple Jump References Landing Methods Discussion/Limitations 1. Ford K.R, Myer GD, Scluuitt .LC, Uhl TL, Hewett TE. Preferential quadriceps activation in female athletes with incremental increases in landing intensity. J The results of this study app ears to agree with previous literature regarding the Appl Biomech. 2011;27(3):215-222. EMG activity was recorded using a Noraxon TeleMyo DIS telemetry unit with a quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio in males versus females. That is, females tend JO • ZP MS • 00 2. Walsh M, Boling MC, McGrath M, Blackbwn JT, Padua DA. Lower extremity sampling rate of 1 kHz. The EMG data was recorded from the mtL~icles using the to use a higher level of muscle contraction in their quadriceps relative to their .JOv.d lP .,.. ..,;oJQ~MS u.dOO.a:•f...,..,.Tfi muscle activation and knee flexion during ajump-landi11g task. J Athl Train. 2012 Noraxon Model546 DTS EMG sensor system which transtnitted the EMG data to a '" hamstring muscles than males, during landing from a jump. A literature review Jul-Aug;47(4):406-13. Noraxon Model 580 DTS receiver connected to a laptop computer which stored the found that multiple articles that have analyzed tl1e quadriceps to hamstring muscles collected data. The EMG data was analyzed using the Noraxon MR3 Myomuscle ratio between males and females. l-J Ebben et al.6found that men demonstrated 3. Benche J, Aagaard P, Zebis MK. Muscle activation during ACL injury risk software prohrrarn. The Noraxon Myovideo system, using a NiNox 125/250 camera greater lateral and medial hamstring activation than women during jump landings movements in young female atl1letes: A narrative review. F1·ont Physio/. system was used to record the knee range of motion. The video camera was synced and cutting. Men also showed hrrcater pre-contact activation of both medial and 20 18;(9): 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fpllys .2018.00445 to the EMG data collection. The muscles tested were the right sided vastus lateralis, lateral hamstrings than women. These findings are consistent with the results of our {) 4. Criswell E (ed). Cram's Introduction to Surface Electromyography. Ed 2. Boston, > "" vasms medialis, biceps femoris and se1nitendinosns on each subject. Each subject study. Other research has shown knee flexion upon landing from a jwnp to be ,. MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2011. was asked to perform a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the quadriceps and 2 '0 negatively correlated with quadriceps dominance in individuals The dominance of ., 5. Hermans HJ et al. SENIAM: European Recmmnendations for Sur£1ce hamstring muscles prior to testing. The maximal voluntary contraction was used to th e quadriceps causes a lack of knee flexion caused by dominant quadriceps activity ~ Electromyography. Enschede, the Netherlands: Roessingh Research and calculate percent ofMVC. Three single jumps and three successive jumps were which increase the tensile force on the ACL upon landing from a jump. This landing ~ a. Development; 1999. performed by each subject. A Noraxon Standard EMG Analysis was used to strategy may lead to a predisposition for ACL injuries. 60 compare the muscle activity during the jump activity with the MVC activity and - 6. Ebben WP, Fauth ML, Pen1shek EJ, Garceau LR, Hsu BE, Lutsch BN, Feldmann reported as a percent of the MVC. Graphs were constructed showing the percentage Previous studies have examined the value of hamstring training to lower the CR. Gender-based analysis of hamstring and quadriceps muscle activation during of EMG activity for all th e muscles during the jwnps and the maximal amount of quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio when jumping and prevent injury. A recent .., jump landings and cutting. J Strenglh Cond Res. 2010 Feb;24(2):408-15. knee range of motion that occurred during each of the jwnps. systematic review found that two legged squats to not be effective in improving the 7. Dedinsky R, Baker L, Imbus S, Bowman M, Murray L. Exercises that facilitate qu adriceps to hamstring muscles ratio in participants.' The same authors found optimal hamstring and quadriceps eo-activation to help decrease ACL injwy risk single leg exercises that were performed between 30 and 90 deb'fees of knee fl exion 20 to improve the quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio in participants. It was in health females: A systematic review of the literature. Int.! Sports Phys Ther. concluded that single leg exercises are preferred to reduce quadriceps dominance an I 2017 Feb;l2(1):3-15. anterior tensile force on the ACL. VM VL Bf ST
Limitations There were only four participants involved in this study to explore the differences in EMG activity between males and females. Future studies should include more participants to allow a better representation with adequate power to allow statistical analysis. The study did not take into account the athletic level ofparticipants, which may result in subject varianon.
I I\. 1":'\ SCHOOL OF MEDICINE a U "'t/.1 & HEALTH SCIENCES ~ THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA This Scholarly Project, submitted by Jayla Greene, Brecca Wah lund, Jay Mittlieder, and Adam Lutz in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of North Dakota, has been read by the Advisor and Chairperson of Physical Therapy under whom the work has been done and is hereby approved.
~~~~ (Graduate School Advisor)
(Chairperson, P
1 PERMISSION
Title Electromyographic Activity of Hamstrings and Quadriceps Muscles During Jumping and Landing: Pilot Study
Department Physical Therapy
Degree Doctor of Physical Therapy
In presenting this Scholarly Project in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the Department of Physical Therapy shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my work or, in his absence, by the Chairperson of the department. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this Scholarly Project or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in this Scholarly Project.
Signature (s)
Date
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
LI ST OF FIGURES ...... 4
ABSTRACT ...... 5
CHAPTER 1. Introduction ...... 7
CHAPTER 2. Methods ...... 9
CHAPTER 3. Results ...... 11
CHAPTER 4. Discussion and Limitations ...... 17
REFERENCES ...... 19
3 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Quadriceps and Hamstring Activity During Single Jump Land ing ...... 13
Figure 2. Knee Flexion During Single Jump Landing ...... 14
Figure 3. Quadriceps and Hamstring Activity During Triple Jump Landing ...... 15
Figure 4. Knee Flexion During Triple Jump Landing ...... 16
4 ABSTRACT
Background and Purpose. The purpose of this pilot study was to see if there was a difference in amount of electromyographic (EMG) activity in the quadriceps
(vastus medialis and vastus lateralis) compared to amount of EMG activity in the hamstrings (biceps femoris and semitendinosus) in active male and female subjects during vertical jumping and landing. In addition, we looked at the amount of knee flexion that occurred in the male and female subjects shortly after landing from a vertical jump.
Methods
EMG activity was recorded using a Noraxont TeleMyo DTS telemetry unit with a sampling rate of 1 kHz. EMG data was recorded during vertical jumping and landing. EMG activity in two quadriceps muscles (vastus medialis and vastus lateralis) and two hamstring muscles (biceps femoris and semitendinosus) were monitored during the experiment. The subject was also captured on video using the N iN ox 125/250 FPS camera system. Subjects consisted of two male and two female athletes in good physical condition with no previous knee pathologies.
Results
Differences were found in the quadriceps to hamstring ratio when comparing female to male participants in both single jump (Female 4.42:1, Male 2.38:1) and triple jump landing (Female 5.46:1, Male 1.90:1). Females generally showed higher percent of maximal voluntary contraction in the quadriceps than the males when compared for both jumps. Remarkable differences in knee flexion upon landing were not found between genders in either test.
5 Conclusion
The results of this study showed quadriceps dominance in females as compared to males when landing from a jump. Previous studies have theorized that this
level of dominance creates tensile force on the ACL, leading to increased
incidence of ACL tears. Strength training focused on hamstring activation with a
proper quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio should be implemented when
preventing ACL injuries especially in the female population. Further research is
needed to confirm these conclusions and demonstrate clinical relevance.
6 CHAPTER I
Introduction
Previous research has suggested that female athletes sustain anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries at a higher incidence than male athletes. 1 Ford et al. 1 noted that as the drop height increased there was an increase in the quadriceps muscle activity, but not an increase in hamstring muscle activity. This muscle imbalance has the effect of placing greater strain on the ACL, which predisposes it to injury.
Walsh et al.2 described the relationship between lower extremity muscle activity and knee flexion angles during a jump landing task. They found that greater activation of the quadriceps and less activation of the hamstrings resulted in a decreased knee flexion angle at landing. Increased activation of the quadriceps versus the hamstrings was hypothesized to be a risk factor for ACL injury.
Beneke et al. 3 reviewed the literature regarding ACL injury risk movements in young female athletes. They reported that young female athletes were at ~n increased risk for ACL injury during sport activities. They found that clear, gender specific differences in muscle activation and coordination were identified demonstrating elevated quadriceps activity and reduced hamstring activity in young female athletes compared to their male counterparts, suggesting that young female athletes have an increase of an ACL injury.
Research suggests that dominance of the quadriceps (females in particular) relative to the hamstrings increased the risk of an ACL injury.
7 However, Beneke et al. 3 point out that there is a paucity of studies in adolescent female athletes that looked at muscle activation in non-contact activities in that
high risk population. Our review of the literature indicated that there are only a few studies of EMG activity of the knee muscles during jump landing activities,
and most were done from a drop landing position. The purpose of our study was to investigate the activity in the quadriceps and hamstring muscles along with the
knee flexion angle during a maximal vertical jump from a standing position. We
hypothesized that the male participants' quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio would be higher than the quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio than the female participants.
8 CHAPTER II
Methods
EMG activity was recorded using a Noraxon TeleMyo DTS telemetry unit with a sampling rate of 1 kHz. The EMG data was recorded from the muscles using the Noraxon Model 546 DTS EMG sensor system which transmitted the
EMG data to a Noraxon Model 580 DTS receiver connected to a laptop computer which stored the collected data. The EMG data was analyzed using the Noraxon
MR3 Myomuscle software program. The Noraxon Myovideo system, using a
NiNox 125/250 camera system was used to record the shoulder abduction exercises. The video camera was synced to the EMG data collection.
The muscles tested were the right sided vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus on each subject. Before applying the EMG electrodes the skin was abraded and cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. Blue
Sensor (model M-00-S) surface electrodes were used to pick up the EMG activity. The electrodes were placed on the skin, parallel to the muscle fiber
4 5 orientation and followed standard, recommended placement sites. •
Electrode Placement Sites:
Vastus Medialis - 1/5 distance from medial knee joint line to AS IS, over belly of vastus medialis
Vastus Lateralis - 1/4 distance from lateral knee joint line to ASIS, over belly of vastus lateral is
Biceps Femoris- Midpoint of a line from ischial tuberosity to lateral femoral condyle
Semitendinosus - Midpoint of a line from ischial tuberosity to medial femoral
9 Manual Muscle Test Positions:
Tested quadriceps in sitting with knee bent to 90 degrees, thigh stabilized and resistance applied at ankle, hold for 5 seconds
Tested hamstrings in sitting with knee bent to 90 degrees, thigh stabilized and resistance applied at ankle, hold for 5 seconds
To allow motion capture, reflective markers were placed on the right greater trochanter, right lateral femoral condyle, right fibular head and right lateral
malleolus. The markers were placed to allow motion capture and tracking of right
knee flexion during the jumping activities.
The participants were then asked to perform a single vertical jump and a series of three successive vertical jumps. Rest periods were allowed between each jump session. Three single jumps and three successive jumps were performed by each subject. EMG data was collected during jumps from each participant. Using the Noraxon MR3 software, a marker was placed at the beginning and end of each jump record to indicate the time that the foot was on the floor between jumps. A Noraxon Standard EMG Analysis was used to compare the muscle activity during the jump activity with the MVC activity and reported as a percent of the MVC. In addition, the Noraxon Myovideo software was used to track the knee flexion angle during the entire jump sequence.
Graphs were constructed showing the percentage of EMG activity for all the muscles during the jumps and the maximal amount of knee range of mo tion that occurred during each of the jumps.
10 CHAPTER Ill
Results
In single jump landing, both the male and female participants demonstrated higher levels of quadriceps activity than hamstring activity as
measured by percent maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) (Figure 1). The
%MVC of quadriceps activity in both female participants was higher than in
m~les. The vastus lateralis demonstrated a greater %MVC contraction than the vastus medialis in the female participants. The quadriceps muscle that showed the lowest amount of activation in both males and females was the vastus lateralis. The hamstring muscle that showed the lowest %MVC was the semitendinosus. The ratio of the quadriceps to the hamstring muscles for the single jump in males was 2.38:1 as compared to 4.42:1 in females.
The male subjects demonstrated similar degrees of knee flexion upon landing, with one subject at 95.9 degrees and the other at 99 degrees (Figure 2).
Female subjects had more variable knee flexion upon landing, with one showing
109 degrees and the other 74.6 degrees of knee flexion.
During triple jump landing, female participants demonstrated the greatest
EMG activity in the vastus medialis (Figure 3). Once again, the smallest %MVC activity was demonstrated in the semitendinosus for both gender groups. The ratio of the quadriceps to the hamstring muscles in males was 1.9:1 as compared to 5.46:1 for females.
In the triple jump, the females had a higher degree of knee flexion as compared to their results in the single jump, and as compared to males (Figure
11 4). The female subjects demonstrated 103 degrees and 101 degrees of
maximalknee flexion upon landing from the jumps. The male subjects
demonstrated 95.9 degrees and 90.3 degrees of knee flexion upon landing.
12 Figure 1. Quadriceps and Hamstring Activity During Single Jump Landing
140
• JO • ZP 1: MS • DG 120 JO and ZP are males; MS and DG are females
100 u > ~ 80 "'+- 0 +"' s: cu 60 u cu~ ~ 40
20
0 VM VL BF ST
13 Ill ~ ro E ~ <1.1.... ro (.!) 0 ~ "'C c::: c ro l/) ~ v,~ <1.1 ro E ....<1.1 ro c.. N "'C c::: V) ro 0...., ::?!
C) c: "C c: cu ...J c. 0.. E N ' -.,:::::1 .! C) c: Ci) C) c: 'i: c:::::1 c: 0 0 ')( - .! u. G) G) c: ~ 0 0 0 0 0 N 0 00 N N ...... ~ :::::1 C) u. ....(1) ro (.!) ~ Cl Q "0 c: ro • 1.1) V) 1- ~ V\ :?! V,' ..9:/ ro c... E N ....(1) ro C) • c... c 0 N ....., "0 "C c: c ro C'G • ...J 0--,
c. Ll.. E a:l ..,:::l ~c. 'i: 1- C) c V) 'i: ...-< :::l c ~ ..... ·s;: > ~ (,)
Discussion and Limitations
The results of this study appears to a~ree with previous literature
regarding the quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio in males versus females.
That is, females tend to use a higher level of muscle contraction in their quadriceps relative to their hamstring muscles than males, during landing from a jump. A literature review found that multiple articles that have analyzed the
1 3 quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio between males and females. - Ebben et al. 6found that men demonstrated greater lateral and medial hamstring activation than women during jump landings and cutting. Men also showed greater pre contact activation of both medial and lateral hamstrings than women. These findings are consistent with the results of our study. Another article found knee flexion upon landing from a jump to be negatively correlated with quadriceps dominance in individuals.2 They concluded that the dominance of the quadriceps causes a lack of knee flexion and speculated that the reduced knee flexion angle caused by dominant quadriceps activity would increase the tensile force on the
ACL upon landing from a jump. Therefore, this type of landing strategies may lead to a predisposition for ACL injuries.
Previous studies have examined the value of hamstring training to lower the quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio when jumping and prevent injury. A recent systematic review found that two legged squats to not be effective in improving the quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio in participants? The same authors found single leg exercises that were performed between 30 and 90
17 degrees of knee flexion to improve the quadriceps to hamstring muscles ratio in
participants. It could thus be concluded that single leg exercises are preferred to
reduce quadriceps dominance an anterior tensile force on the ACL.
Limitations
This pilot study had limitations that must be considered when analyzing the quality of results. There were only four participants involved in this study to explore the differences in EMG activity between males and females. Future studies should include more participants to allow a better representation with adequate power to allow statistical analysis. The study did not take into account the athletic level of participants, which may result in subject variation. The EMG analysis software utilized in the pilot study to analyze EMG results was new to the researchers with the addition of a new footswitch mechanism. Additional experience with the software, along with a larger subject sample, are ways to overcome the limitations of this study.
18 References
1. Ford KR, Myer GO, Schmitt LC, Uhl TL, Hewett TE. Preferential
quadriceps activation in female athletes with incremental increases in
landing intensity. J App/ Biomech. 2011 ;27(3):215-222.
2. Walsh M, Boling MC, McGrath M, Blackburn JT, Padua DA. Lower
extremity niuscle activation and knee flexion during a jump-landing task. J
Athl Train. 2012 Jui-Aug;47(4):406-13.
3. Benche J, Aagaard P, Zebis MK. Muscle activation during ACL injury risk
movements in young female athletes: A narrative review. Front Physiol.
2018;(9):1-10. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00445
4. Criswell E (ed). Cram's Introduction to Surface Electromyography. Ed 2.
Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2011.
5. Hermans HJ et al. SENIAM: European Recommendations for Surface
Electromyography. Enschede, the Netherlands: Roessingh Research and
Development; 1999.
6. Ebben WP, Fauth ML, Petushek EJ, Garceau LR, Hsu BE, Lutsch BN,
Feldmann CR. Gender-based analysis of hamstring and quadriceps
muscle activation during jump landings and cutting. J Strength Cond Res.
2010 Feb;24(2):408-15.
7. Dedinsky R, Baker L, lmbus S, Bowman M, Murray L. Exercises that
facilitate optimal hamstring and quadriceps co-activation to help decrease
ACL injury risk in health females: A systematic review of the literature. lnt
J Sports Phys Ther. 2017 Feb;12(1):3-15.
19