Comparison of Lower Extremity Muscle Activity during the Deep Squat Exercise Using Various Tools
10.18857/jkpt.2022.34.2.63
- Author:
Jun Hyeon PARK
1
;
Jong Kyung LEE
;
Ji Won PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate school, Daegu Catholic University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:
Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
2022;34(2):63-67
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of assistance tools such as gym balls, wedges, and straps on lower extremity muscle activity and the increase in the range of motion made possible by the use of these tools. The subjects were divided into two groups: a group capable of deep-squatting (PS) and the second finding it impossible or having difficulty in performing such squats (IS).
Methods:Twenty-three subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activation of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles during deep squats, normal squats (NS), gym ball squats (GS), wedge squats (WS), and strap squats (SS). A motion analysis system was used to measure the range of motion of the knee joint during each of these exercises.
Results:There was a significant difference in the RF muscle activity between the possible squat (PS) and the impossible squat (IS) groups in the GS, and there were significant differences in the RF and TA muscle activity between the groups in the WS. Both the PS group and the IS group showed a significant difference in the TA muscle activity depending on the tool used. There were also significant differences in the range of motion of the knee joints between the intervention methods using NS and those using the tools.
Conclusion:In both groups, the muscle activity of the TA muscles was lower when GS, WS, and SS were performed compared to NS. In addition, compared to NS, the range of motion of the knee joint increased when the three tools were used. This study shows that the activity of the RF, VM, and TA muscles decreased and the range of motion of the knee joint increased during deep squats for both the PS and IS groups when tools were used.
