TY - JOUR
T1 - Muscle functional MRI to evaluate quadriceps dysfunction in patellofemoral pain
AU - Pattyn, Els
AU - Verdonk, Peter
AU - Steyaert, Adelheid
AU - Van Tiggelen, Damien
AU - Witvrouw, Erik
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - PURPOSE: A dysfunction of the quadriceps muscle group has often been suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of patellofemoral pain (PFP). However, consensus is lacking regarding the quadriceps recruitment pattern of patients with PFP. The aim of this study was to examine by muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging if patients with PFP actually exhibit an altered activation of the muscles that play a significant role in the dynamic balance of the patella. METHODS: Forty-six patients with PFP (25 female and 21 male, mean ± SD age = 25.0 ± 7.4 yr) and 30 healthy control subjects (17 female and 13 male, mean ± SD age = 21.6 ± 4.5 yr) underwent MRI of the quadriceps before and immediately after a squat exercise. The transverse relaxation time (T2) and the T2 shift were calculated for the vasti muscles. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the T2 values at rest and the T2 shift values between the patient and the control groups, except for the T2 rest value of the VMVI of females (P = 0.007). The T2 shift of the VL was significantly smaller than the T2 shift of the VMVI in both study groups (male P < 0.001 and female P = 0.044), while in females, the T2 shift of the VMO was also significantly smaller than the T2 shift of the VMVI (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The activation pattern of the quadriceps is not altered in patients with PFP for both males and females. Because the relative contribution of the quadriceps muscles to a functional activity has not been modified, there is no evidence for quadriceps dysfunction.
AB - PURPOSE: A dysfunction of the quadriceps muscle group has often been suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of patellofemoral pain (PFP). However, consensus is lacking regarding the quadriceps recruitment pattern of patients with PFP. The aim of this study was to examine by muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging if patients with PFP actually exhibit an altered activation of the muscles that play a significant role in the dynamic balance of the patella. METHODS: Forty-six patients with PFP (25 female and 21 male, mean ± SD age = 25.0 ± 7.4 yr) and 30 healthy control subjects (17 female and 13 male, mean ± SD age = 21.6 ± 4.5 yr) underwent MRI of the quadriceps before and immediately after a squat exercise. The transverse relaxation time (T2) and the T2 shift were calculated for the vasti muscles. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the T2 values at rest and the T2 shift values between the patient and the control groups, except for the T2 rest value of the VMVI of females (P = 0.007). The T2 shift of the VL was significantly smaller than the T2 shift of the VMVI in both study groups (male P < 0.001 and female P = 0.044), while in females, the T2 shift of the VMO was also significantly smaller than the T2 shift of the VMVI (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The activation pattern of the quadriceps is not altered in patients with PFP for both males and females. Because the relative contribution of the quadriceps muscles to a functional activity has not been modified, there is no evidence for quadriceps dysfunction.
KW - activation pattern
KW - magnetic resonance imaging
KW - patellofemoral
KW - quadriceps
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878922375&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318282672c
DO - 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318282672c
M3 - Article
C2 - 23274609
AN - SCOPUS:84878922375
SN - 0195-9131
VL - 45
SP - 1023
EP - 1029
JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
IS - 6
ER -