An open label pilot investigation of the efficacy of Botulinum toxin type A [Dysport] injection in the rehabilitation of chronic anterior knee pain

Purpose. To examine the effect of intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin type A [Dysport®] to reduce relative overactivity of the vastus lateralis [VL] muscle, in conjunction with re-training of vastus medialis [VM] muscle as an adjunct to rehabilitation for chronic anterior knee pain.

Method. Eight females with chronic (>6 months) history of anterior knee pain, who had failed conservative management, were studied in this open label pilot study. Intramuscular Dysport® injection [300 – 500 units] to the distal third of VL muscle was followed by a 12-week customized home exercise programme to improve recruitment of VM muscle and functional knee control. VL and VM muscle cross sectional area from a standardized spiral CT sequence, isometric quadriceps strength (dynamometry), timed stair task, self-reported pain and disability were assessed.

Results. Subjects reported reduced knee pain and brace dependency and increased participation in sporting and daily living activities. Isometric quadriceps muscle strength was maintained or improved despite significant atrophy, evident on CT, of the distal component of VL in the treated limb. Time taken to ascend and descend a flight of stairs improved in all subjects. Subjective and objective improvements were maintained at 24-week follow-up.

Conclusions. These pilot data provide preliminary support for the role of Dysport® as an adjunct to non-surgical management of individuals with chronic anterior knee pain. Larger double blind, randomized, placebo-injection controlled studies of this novel approach to improving patellofemoral mechanics are needed to establish the efficacy of this intervention.     

Relationship between knee alignment and the electromyographic activity of quadriceps muscles in patients with knee osteoarthritis

[Purpose] We evaluated the relationship between knee alignment and the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus medialis (VM) to the vastus lateralis (VL) muscles in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a cross-sectional study. [Subjects and Methods] Forty subjects with knee OA were assessed by anatomic radiographic knee alignment and the VM/VL ratio was calculated. Surface EMG from both the VM and VL muscles were evaluated during maximal isometric contraction at 60° knee flexion. Simultaneously, peak quadriceps torque was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. Subjects were categorized into low, moderate, and high varus groups according to knee malalignment. The peak quadriceps torque and VM/VL ratio across groups, and their relationships with varus malalignment were analyzed. [Results] All subjects had medial compartment OA and the VM/VL ratio of all subjects was 1.31 ± 0.28 (mean ± SD). There were no significant differences in the peak quadriceps torque or VM/VL ratios across the groups nor were there any significant relationships with varus malalignment. [Conclusion] The VM/VL ratio and peak quadriceps torque were not associated with the severity of knee varus malalignment.Key words: Malalignment, Knee, Quadriceps     

Effects of Open and Closed Kinetic Chains of Sling Exercise Therapy on the Muscle Activity of the Vastus Medialis Oblique and Vastus Lateralis

[Purpose] The muscle strength of the quadriceps muscle is critical in patellofemoral pain syndrome. The quadriceps muscle supplies the power for dynamic patellar movement, and the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) enable the patella to stabilize during tracking. We followed the theories about open and closed kinetic chain exercises to design two exercises, sling open chain knee extension (SOCKE) exercise and sling closed chain knee extension (SCCKE) exercise. The purpose of our study was to research the changes in quadriceps muscle activity during both exercises. [Methods] Electromyographic analysis was used to explore the different effects of the two exercises. The MVC% was calculated for the VMO and VL during exercise for analysis. [Results] We found that the mean MVC% values of the VMO and VL during the SOCKE exercise were higher than those during the SCCKE exercise. The ratio of the VMO to VL was 1.0 ± 0.19 during the SOCKE exercise and 1.11 ± 0.15 during the SCCKE exercise. [Conclusions] The SOCKE exercise is targeted at quadriceps muscle training and has a recruitment effect on the VMO. The beneficial effect of the SOCKE exercise is better than that of the SCCKE exercise.Key words: Patellofemoral pain syndrome, Sling exercise therapy, Electromyography     

Electromyographic activity of the quadriceps components during the final degrees of knee extension

An imbalance in the recruitment patterns of the quadriceps muscle has been implicated in patellofemoral knee pain; however ambiguity remains in the normal recruitment patterns of this muscle. We investigated the activity of the quadriceps muscle during the final degrees of knee extension, specifically in the medial and lateral components. Sixteen healthy subjects (age; 22.5 (± 3.4) years, body mass; 67.5 (± 12.1) kg and height; 173.9 (± 10.4) cm) participated.Torque and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the quadriceps muscle were measured during isokinetic and isometric knee extensions. Torque and EMG activity reduced in all component muscles during the final degrees of isokinetic extension, but this did not occur during isometric contractions at similar angles. Normalised activity of rectus femoris (RF) was greater than that of vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) during the final degrees of isokinetic knee extension at 30°/sec; there were no differences between any component muscles at the higher velocities. VMO:VL and vastus medialis longus (VML):VL ratios were unchanged during knee extensions, except that VML:VL ratio increased significantly during the final degrees of extension at 30°/sec. Future work should compare these results with people with anterior knee pain, and explore this further during activities of daily living.     

Neuromuscular and architectural alterations of the vastus lateralis muscle in elderly patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis]

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms involved in muscle weakness in elderly patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis. SUBJECTS: We investigated 7 patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis. METHOD: We measured knee position sense and isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the knee extensors. Electromyographic (EMG) measurement of biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) involved different levels of contraction (25, 50, 75 and 100% MVC). Neuromuscular efficiency of quadriceps was also calculated (MVC/EMG). Ultrasonography was used to investigate the VL architectural parameters at the median part of the VL for different levels of contraction (25, 50, and 75% MVC). All tests were performed on the osteoarthritic and healthy knees. RESULTS: The quadriceps MVC of the affected knee was reduced by 30%. The VL thickness of the affected knee was 10% smaller than that of the unaffected knee. VL activity seen on EMG did not differ between knees, but RF, VM and BF activity was greater in the unaffected than affected knee. Neuromuscular efficiency was higher (26%) in the unaffected knee. Knee position sense was reduced by 33% in the affected knee. CONCLUSION: Quadriceps weakness associated with knee osteoarthritis seems to be related to changes in muscle rather than pennation angle and changes in fascicule length.     

Differences of quadriceps activity during inline lunge by using FMS assessment

[Purpose] This study assessed the exercise capacity of healthy adults while performing the inline lunge exercise by using Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Compared the difference in muscle activity of the quadriceps according to the exercise capacity. [Participants and Methods] Thirty two healthy participants (12 males, 20 females) participated in this study. The surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the electrical activities for the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL) of quadriceps. [Results] Both groups had significant difference when sitting up and getting up during the inline lunge. In scores 3 group, vastus medialis showed higher muscle activity than vastus lateralis. On contrary, in scores 2 group, vastus lateralis had higher muscle activity than vastus medialis. [Conclusion] Therefore, this study suggests that inline lunge can help to strengthen the quadriceps effectively by showing the difference of quadriceps activity according to exercise capacity.Key words: Inline lunge, Muscle activity, Functional movement screen     

Comparison of vastus medialis obliquus: vastus lateralis muscle integrated electromyographic ratios between healthy subjects and patients with patellofemoral pain

The purpose of this study was to compare vastus medialis obliquus:vastus lateralis muscle (VMO:VL) integrated electromyographic (IEMG) ratios of healthy subjects and patients with unilateral patellofemoral pain (PFP) under isotonic and isometric quadriceps femoris muscle contraction conditions. Subjects ranging in age from 18 to 35 years (mean = 28.06, SD = 5.97) were assigned to one of three groups on the basis of type of knee condition. In group 1, which consisted of seven healthy control subjects with no history of knee pathology, both knees were tested. In group 2, which consisted of nine patients with unilateral PFP, only the painful knee was tested. In group 3, which consisted of the same nine patients who comprised group 2, only the nonpainful knee was tested. Nonnormalized and normalized VMO:VL IEMG ratios were computed for ascending stairs, descending stairs, submaximal isometric contraction, and maximal isometric contraction (nonnormalized only). A two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures indicated VMO:VL ratios for isotonic stair-climbing activities were significantly greater than VMO:VL ratios for isometric contractions. Nonnormalized VMO:VL ratios in group 1 were significantly greater than nonnormalized VMO:VL ratios in the other two groups. Patients with PFP may have abnormal VMO:VL activation patterns, and isotonic quadriceps femoris muscle exercise may elicit more favorable muscle activation patterns than isometric exercise for patients with PFP.     

A Study on the Differences of Quadriceps Femoris Activities by Knee Alignment during Isometric Contraction

[Purpose] This study attempted to identify how genu varum or valgum affects the electromyographic activities of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris during knee isometric contraction. [Subjects] Fifty-two healthy young adults were enrolled in this study. They were enrolled and classified into three groups by knee alignment conditions: the genu varum, genu valgum, and control groups. [Methods] The electromyographic activity ratio of the vastus medialis to the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris were calculated using the percentage of maximum voluntary contraction. The participants contracted their quadriceps during isometric contraction at 30 and 60° of knee flexion. [Results] The genu varum group had more activity in the vastus medialis than in the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris, whereas the genu valgum group had more activity in the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris than in the vastus medialis. There was a significant difference in the muscle activity ratio between the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis by angle of knee flexion degree only in the genu valgum. There were no significant differences in any of the three groups in terms of the muscle activity ratio of the vastus medialis to the rectus femoris by angle of knee flexion. [Conclusion] The quadriceps femoris was used for different strategies according to knee alignment during isometric contraction at 30 and 60°. This study suggests that rehabilitation training programs used to strengthen the quadriceps should consider the knee alignment conditions of the target subjects.Key words: Electromyography, Quadriceps muscle, Isometric contraction     

Relationship between muscle echo intensity on ultrasound and isokinetic strength of the three superficial quadriceps femoris muscles in healthy young adults

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between muscle echo intensity measured with ultrasound and the isokinetic strength of each of the three superficial quadriceps femoris muscles in healthy young adults. [Participants and Methods] We measured the echo intensity of the three superficial muscles of the quadriceps femoris in 25 healthy adults (10 males and 15 females; mean age, 22.3 years) using ultrasound. Moreover, we obtained the maximum force during isokinetic knee extension at 60°/s using an isokinetic dynamometer. [Results] In males and females, a significant negative correlation between echo intensity and muscle strength was found in the VM (r=−0.65 and r=−0.63, respectively). [Conclusion] In both males and females, only the muscle echo intensity of the vastus medialis was found to have a negative correlation with the maximum force during isokinetic knee extension at 60°/s. Our data lay the foundation for simplifying and rationally performing the measurement of muscle echo intensity of the quadriceps femoris. And it would therefore be sufficient to only measure the VM to clarify a relationship between EI and maximum isokinetic force in the quadriceps.Key words: Echo intensity, Isokinetic strength, Quadriceps femoris muscle     

髌腱末端病运动员膝关节等速向心和离心运动时股四头肌表面肌电的变化

背景:髌腱末端病是腱止点部位的微细损伤,股四头肌群中的股内侧肌与股外侧肌之间的力量平衡发生变化,可直接导致髌骨产生异常运动从而对腱止点部位产生影响.目的:比较与分析髌腱末端病运动员膝关节力学特征和股四头肌表面肌电图的变化规律,为髌腱末端病的预防与治疗提供参考依据.设计、时间及地点:病例一对照观察,于2009-06/07在苏州大学体育学院运动机能评定实验室完成.对象:选择忠有髌腱末端病的男性运动员10人为髌腱末端病组,年龄(21.44±1.51)岁.配对选择10名无膝关节伤病的运动员作为正常对照组,年龄(21.37±1.36)岁.方法:对两组受试者分别进行膝关节力量和表面肌电测试,比较与分析膝关节屈肌力矩、伸肌力矩和股四头肌表面肌电的变化.主要观察指标:①等速运动时两组对象屈伸肌力矩的比较.②两组对象股四头肌表面肌电积分值的比较.③两组对象股内侧肉和股外侧肌表面肌电积分值比率的比较.结果:向心运动和离心运动时,末端病组屈伸肌峰力矩比值显著高于对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),股内侧肌表面肌电积分值显著低于对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),两组股外侧肌和股直肌表面肌电积分值差异均无显著性意义.向心运动和离心运动时,末端病组股内侧肌,股外侧肌比值均明显低于对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).结论:髌腱末端病运动员膝关节屈肌与伸肌的力量差距较为突出,存在股内侧肌活动低下和股内侧肌与股外侧肌之间不平衡的现象.     

The effects of squatting with visual feedback on the muscle activation of the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis in young adults with an increased quadriceps angle

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of performing squat exercises with visual feedback on the activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles in young adults with an increased quadriceps angle (Q-angle). [Subjects] This study used a motion analysis program (Dartfish, Switzerland) to select 20 young adults with an increased Q-angle, who were then divided into a squat group that received visual feedback (VSG, n=10) and a squat group that received no visual feedback (SG, n=10). [Methods] The intensity of exercises was increased every two weeks over a six-week exercise period in both groups. A visual marker was attached to the patella of the subjects in the VSG, and they then performed squat exercises with a maximum of 90° of knee flexion within a route marked on a mirror. The SG performed squat exercises with a maximum 90° of knee flexion without attaching a visual feedback device. [Results] Analysis of the muscle activation due to 90° squat exercises indicated that both groups had statistically significant increases in activation of the VL. The VSG exhibited statistically significant increases in activation of the VMO. [Conclusion] This study confirmed that squat exercises with visual feedback are effective in activation of the VMO and VL muscles. The findings are meaningful in terms of preventing the occurrence of patellofemoral pain.Key words: Q-angle, Visual feedback squat exercise, VMO     

Differences in onset time between the vastus medialis and lateralis during stair stepping in individuals with genu varum or valgum

[Purpose] We investigated the difference in onset time between the vastus medialis and lateralis according to knee alignment during stair ascent and descent to examine the effects of knee alignment on the quadriceps during stair stepping. [Subjects] Fifty-two adults (20 with genu varum, 12 with genu valgum, and 20 controls) were enrolled. Subjects with > 4 cm between the medial epicondyles of the knees were placed in the genu varum group, whereas subjects with > 4 cm between the medial malleolus of the ankle were placed in the genu valgum group. [Methods] Surface electromyography was used to measure the onset times of the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis during stair ascent and descent. [Results] The vastus lateralis showed more delayed firing than the vastus medialis in the genu varum group, whereas vastus medialis firing was more delayed than vastus lateralis firing in the genu valgum group. Significant differences in onset time were detected between stair ascent and descent in the genu varum and valgum groups. [Conclusion] Genu varum and valgum affect quadriceps firing during stair stepping. Therefore, selective rehabilitation training of the quadriceps femoris should be considered to prevent pain or knee malalignment deformities.Key words: Quadriceps muscle, Genu varum, Genu valgum     

Recovery process of the muscle activities during walking with efficient early quadriceps training and gait exercises after total knee arthroplasty

BackgroundTotal knee arthroplasty (TKA) by the trivector approach is less invasive to the knee extensor mechanism; early quadriceps training is possible and a good prognosis is expected after surgery. However, investigations regarding lower limb muscle activity during gait have not been reported after using the trivector approach. To determine an effective postoperative rehabilitation program, we analyzed the recovery processes of leg muscle activities during walking.MethodsFourteen subjects with severe knee osteoarthritis (OA) who underwent early exercises after TKA by trivector approach were included in the TKA group. The control group consisted of eight patients with mild knee OA. Surface electromyography of the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) muscles were recorded and gait speed and step length were measured. The TKA group was measured postoperatively at 3, 12, and 24 weeks.ResultsGait speed of TKA group significantly increased at 12 weeks post-surgery and recovered equal to the control group at 24 weeks. Additionally, step length reached the level of control subjects at 24 weeks. Postoperative activity of VM returned to that of the control group at 12 weeks. VL continued decreasing until 12 weeks compared with the preoperative values, but gradually increased and became equal to the control group at 24 weeks. RF slightly increased at 3 weeks postoperation and remained stable.ConclusionsVM injury by the trivector approach might be small and temporary.Functional recovery of VL was important and early starting rehabilitation program up to 24 weeks is appropriate.     

膝骨关节炎患者股内侧肌、股直肌和股外侧肌间的协调性

目的应用表面肌电图和等速肌力测定方法比较膝骨关节炎患者与正常人股内侧肌、股直肌和股外侧肌间的协调性改变。方法34例膝骨关节炎患者和34名膝关节健康者在膝关节屈曲10°、60°、100°等长伸膝和等速60°/s、180°/s伸膝运动测试模式下,进行股内侧肌(VM)、股直肌(RF)和股外侧肌(VL)的表面肌电图和股四头肌肌力的评测,包括肌肉激活启动顺序和VM/VL神经肌电比值。结果与正常人对比,膝骨关节炎患者在等速180°/s伸膝运动时VM相对于VL启动延迟（P＜0.05）;在膝屈10°等长伸膝运动时,VM/VL神经肌电比值降低（P＜0.05）。结论膝骨关节炎患者患侧股四头肌的协调性减退。     

Knee joint angle and vasti muscle electromyograms during fatiguing contractions

We compared vasti muscle electromyograms for two knee joint angles during fatiguing tetanic contractions. Tetanic contraction of the knee extensors was evoked for 70 s by electrical stimulation of the femoral nerve at knee joint angles of 60° (extended, with 0° indicating full extension) and 110° (flexed) in eight healthy men. Surface electromyography was recorded from the vastus intermedius (VI), vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles. Knee extension force and M‐wave amplitudes and durations were calculated every 7 s, which were normalized by the initial value. Normalized knee extension force was decreased at the flexed knee joint angle compared with that of the extended knee joint angle (P<0·05). Decreased normalized M‐wave amplitude and increased normalized M‐wave duration of the VI were greater at the flexed knee joint angle than the extended knee joint angle (P<0·05), whereas those for the VL and VM were similar (P>0·05). These results suggest that peripheral fatigue profiles of the VI might be greater at the flexed than the extended knee joint angles, but that of VL and VM might be similar in the tested range of knee joint angles (i.e. 60°–110°) during continuous tetanic contraction induced by electrical stimulation. Therefore, greater reduction of knee extension force at the flexed knee joint angle than the extended knee joint angle may reflect fatigue development of the VI more than other quadriceps femoris components.     

实时剪切波超声弹性成像技术评估肌肉减少症患者骨骼肌弹性模量的研究

摘 要 目的 研究肌肉减少症患者股四头肌、腘绳肌和肱二头肌长轴剪切波速度（SWV）值特征,探讨实时剪切波超声弹性成像技术（SWE）评估肌肉减少症患者肌肉状态的应用价值。方法 选择22例肌肉减少症患者（病变组）和21例同期年龄、性别匹配的健康体检者（对照组）,应用剪切波超声弹性成像技术,获取病变组和对照组优势侧的股四头肌4块肌肉［股外侧肌（VL）,股直肌（RF）,股内侧肌（VM）和股中间肌（VI）］,腘绳肌3块肌肉［股二头肌（BF）,半腱肌（ST）和半膜肌（SM）］和肱二头肌（BB）松弛状态下长轴SWV值,并进行对比分析。结果 松弛状态下病变组与对照组的VL、RF、VM、VI、BF、ST、SM和BB肌肉的SWV数值差异有显著统计学意义(均P＜0.001)。松弛状态下病变组与对照组比较,VL、RF、VM、VI、BF、ST、SM和BB肌肉的SWV数值分别降低7.8%、7.0%、7.3%、7.3%、7.1%、7.3%、6.5%和6.7%。与对照组比较,病变组SM长轴的SWV值降低最小,VL长轴的SWV值降低最为显著。年龄和BMI指数均为老年人骨骼肌弹性模量的影响因素。结论 实时剪切波超声弹性成像技术可检测肌肉减少症患者较大骨骼肌弹性差异,为评估肌肉减少症患者肌肉状态提供了一种新的检测方法。     

The association between muscle EMG and perfusion in knee extensor muscles

The relationships between electromyographic (EMG) activity and force as well as muscle blood flow and work have been well established. However, the association between muscle blood flow and EMG activity remains unsolved. Thus, to test the hypothesis that muscle EMG activity relates to muscle perfusion in different compartments of the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle, 12 healthy male subjects were studied. During two very submaximal exercise bouts, at different exercise intensities, oxygen labelled radiowater and positron emission tomography were used to measure muscle perfusion. In addition, produced force of knee extensors and muscle EMG activity in the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles were recorded during both exercise bouts. Although the exercise intensity and average force production was higher during the second exercise bout (38 +/- 15 versus 51 +/- 17 N; P = 0.007), the mean EMG activity was lower (RF; P<0.001) or unchanged (VL; P = 0.722 and VM; P = 0.640). During the second exercise period, perfusion also remained unchanged in the entire QF muscle (P = 0.223) and in its separate muscles (VL, P = 0.703; VM, P = 0.141; RF, P = 0.113) in a group level. However, the individual changes in muscle perfusion were tightly related to changes in muscle EMG activity in VL (r = 0.84; P = 0.002) and VM (r = 0.68; P = 0.015) but poorly in the RF muscle (r = 0.40; P = 0.257). In conclusion, the different associations between muscle perfusion and EMG activity in different QF muscles suggests specific functional role of the vasti muscles and the RF muscle.     

The Effect of Ground Tilt on the Lower Extremity Muscle Activity of Stroke Patients Performing Squat Exercises

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ground tilt on the lower extremity muscle activity of stroke patients performing squat exercises. [Subjects] Fifteen hemiparetic patients volunteered to participate in this study. [Methods] The subjects performed squat exercises at three different ground tilt angles: 15° plantar flexion, a neutral position, and 15° dorsiflexion. A surface electromyogram (sEMG) was used to record the electromyographic activities of the leg extensor muscle in the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and gastrocnemius medialis (GM). The sEMG activity was analyzed using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA and a post hoc Bonferroni correction. [Results] The results of this study are summarized as follows. Significant differences were noted for the VL and the GL when the angle of the ankle joint was between the 15° plantar flexion and neutral positions during squat exercises involving the VL and when the angle of the ankle joint was between the neutral position and 15° dorsiflexion during squat exercises involving the VM. [Conclusion] In this study, sEMG showed that the VL and GL changed significantly during squat exercises according to the ground tilt angle of hemiparetic patients. Therefore, squat exercises with different ground tilt angles can be used to improve VL and GL strength.Key words: Electromyogram, Hemiplegic patient, Squat exercises     

The Effects of Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises and Open Kinetic Chain Exercises Using Elastic Bands on Electromyographic Activity in Degenerative Gonarthritis

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of closed kinetic chain exercises (CKCEs) and open kinetic chain exercises (OKCEs) with elastic bands on the electromyographic activity of patients with degenerative gonarthritis. [Subjects] The study subjects were 30 degenerative gonarthritis patients who were divided into a CKCE group (CKCEG, n=10), an OKCE group (OKCEG, n=10), and a control group (CG, n=10). [Methods] The CKCEG and the OKCEG performed exercises with elastic bands, and the CG took part in a quadriceps strengthening exercise. All three groups performed the exercises three times per week for four weeks. The electromyographic activities of the subjects’ vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), semitendinosus (ST), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were measured and compared. [Results] Within-group comparisons revealed that the electromyographic activities of the VM, RF, VL, ST, and BF muscles increased significantly in the CKCEG. The OKCEG displayed significant increases in the electromyographic activity of the VM, RF, ST, and BF muscles, and the CG showed significant increases in the electromyographic activities of the RF, VL, ST, and BF muscles. In between-group comparisons after the intervention, the electromyographic activities of the VM, RF, and VL muscles of the CKCEG were significantly higher than those of the CG. The electromyographic activities of the VM, RF, and ST muscles of the OKCEG were significantly higher than those of the CG. [Conclusion] We consider CKCEs with elastic bands are an effective intervention for increasing the electromyographic activities of the VM, RF, VL, ST, and BF muscles of degenerative gonarthritis patients, and OKCEs with elastic bands are an effective intervention for increasing the electromyographic activities of the VM, RF, ST, and BF muscles of degenerative gonarthritis patients.