Abstract
Hertel J, Sloss BR, Earl JE. Effect of foot orthotics on quadriceps and gluteus medius
electromyographic activity during selected exercises.
Objective
To compare electromyographic activity of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and
gluteus medius during functional activities in subjects with different foot types
while wearing various off-the-shelf foot orthotics.
Design
Experimental, controlled; 3 foot-type groups (pes planus, pes cavus, pes rectus) each
tested in 4 orthotic conditions while performing 3 different exercises.
Setting
Laboratory.
Participants
Thirty healthy young adults, 10 with each foot type.
Interventions
Four conditions: no orthotic, 7° medial rearfoot post, 4° lateral rearfoot post, and
neutral rearfoot post.
Main outcome measure
Surface electromyographic activity for the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and
gluteus medius during single-leg squatting, lateral stepdown, and maximum vertical
jump exercises.
Results
Greater vastus medialis and gluteus medius activity was found with all 3 orthotic
conditions, regardless of subject foot type, during the single-leg squat and lateral
stepdown. Less vastus lateralis activity was found with the vertical jump with all
orthotic conditions, again regardless of foot type.
Conclusions
During slow controlled exercises such as the single-leg squat and lateral stepdown,
vastus medialis and gluteus medius activity may be enhanced with an off-the-shelf
orthotic, regardless of posting or foot type. These same findings do not appear to
carry over to a more explosive task such as the maximal vertical jump.
Key words
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Article info
Footnotes
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
