The Effect of Varus Deformity on Co-Activation of Abdominal and Lower Limb Muscles during Landing Task in Female Subjects

Abstract

Objective: Genuvarum deformity experience knee instability. This deformity can lead the patient to sever osteoarthritis. The recovery of postural stability is very important to prevention of these patients. Strategies aimed at stabilizing the muscle can have a long-term effect on the joint. This study was performed to determine the relationship between muscle stabilization strategies and knee instability, in order to determine how people with knee Genuvarum, respond to rapid absorption and muscle co- contraction during landing task. Methods: Twenty female participants, (10 normal and 10 Genuvarum) in the present study. The subjects were land by preferred lower limb from a table (30 cm high) on a force plate. Vertical ground reaction force, time to peak of vertical reaction force, velocity of vertical ground reaction force to reach the maximum, time to stability in X and Y directions and resultant vector were calculated as postural control parameters. Also surface electromyography of transverse abdominal/int. oblique, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, lateral gastrocnemius, and medial gastrocnemius muscles were recorded during landing. Motor control strategy were measured by similarity index and voluntary response index. Results: There are significant difference between Genuvarum and Healthy subjects in motor control strategy (P<0.05).A significant difference are detected in postural control parameters between two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Genuvarum deformity may be linked to altered quadriceps, abdominal and gastrocnemius muscles reciprocal co-activation patterns during landing task. In addition, may be affected voluntary motor control strategy in synergy concepts. Postural control is affected in these deformity and shock absorption may be reduced in parallel to increase of response vector and reduce of instability in landing task.