Entrainment of vastus medialis complex activity differs between genders |
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| Authors: | Matthew S. Tenan PhD Anthony C. Hackney PhD DSc Lisa Griffin PhD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA;2. US Army Research Laboratory—Human Research and Engineering Directorate, Maryland, USA;3. Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA |
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| Abstract: | Introduction: That the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) is a functional unit of the vastus medialis (VM) is disputed. Delayed VMO activation predicts patellofemoral pain, which has higher rates in women. Methods: Single MUs and surface electromyogram (EMG) were collected from the VMO and VM of 9 men and 9 women. Men were tested once; women were tested during 5 menstrual phases. Coherence was assessed for motor unit (MU) firings within and between the VM and VMO using multilevel logistic models to determine statistical significance. Results: Compared with women, men have 741% (MU pairs) and 256% (MU‐EMG pairs) greater odds of common drive (0–5 Hz ) coherent oscillations. MU pairs from the VMO and the dual VM/VMO complex have 228% and 212% greater odds of coherent oscillations in the beta band (15–35 Hz ) compared with VM pairs. Conclusions: The VM and VMO are neurologically different muscles; control of the VM complex is sexually dimorphic. Muscle Nerve 53 : 633–640, 2016 |
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| Keywords: | gender differences knee menstrual cycle motor unit quadriceps vastus medialis oblique |
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