A study on the shape change of the rectus femoris muscle with knee flexion

Hiroshi Shinohara; Ryouta Hosomi; Toshihiro Haba; Futoshi Obata; Yuma Terajima; Yuichi Morita

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A study on the shape change of the rectus femoris muscle with knee flexion

VernacularTitle:膝関節屈曲に対する大腿直筋の形状変化に関する一考察
Author: Hiroshi SHINOHARA ¹ ; Ryouta HOSOMI ² ; Toshihiro HABA ¹ ; Futoshi OBATA ³ ; Yuma TERAJIMA ⁴ ; Yuichi MORITA ⁵
Author Information

1. Department of Physical Therapy, Aomori University of Health and Welfare
2. Department of Rehabilitation, Medical Corporation Ishikawa Hospital
3. Department of Physical Therapy, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care
4. Department of Rehabilitation, Medical Corporation Jinseikai Himeshima Clinic
5. Department of Rahabilitaion, Social Medical Corporation Jikunkai Kawasaki Hospital
Keywords: rectus femoris muscle; knee angle; ultrasonography; muscle thickness; cross-sectional area
From:Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 2022;71(2):205-212
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: Since the rectus femoris muscle is associated with trauma and disorders such as muscle strain, it is often a target for evaluation and treatment. However, in many studies, measurement results were obtained from only a part of the rectus femoris muscle and used as a representative value without considering the differences across the muscle. The rectus femoris muscle may change shape with knee flexion because the structure is complicated; it has an intramuscular tendon. The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in shape of the rectus femoris muscle during flexion of the knee joint in different directions. Twelve lower limbs of 12 male university students were analyzed. The rectus femoris muscle was divided into eight parts, and short-axis images were taken with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging device at the knee joint; in extension; flexion at 30 °, 60 °, 90 °, and 120 °; muscle thickness; muscle width; and cross-sectional area. It was suggested that the thickness of the rectus femoris muscle increased from “A” to “F” due to knee flexion, and that this increase occurred because of stretching at the same site. In “G,” there was no difference between the angle conditions; conversely, in “H,” the muscle thickness decreased due to knee flexion. It should also be noted that D and E have the greatest muscle thickness when measuring in the knee flexion position.