British Association of Clinical Anatomists, 2015.
I have had the privilege of being the only physio to present at this years BACA, primarily to an audience of anatomists and surgeons.
It was hard to follow on from an incredibly interesting and cutting edge presentation on hand transplantation (!!) but if we can bring things back to PFJ I’d like to share my key findings. This work is therefore in write-up with the goal of publication in 2016.
Key points:
Subjects:
- 10 female, 6 male.
- Aged 18-23 years.
- Mean Tegner 3. (ie sedentary)
Outcome measures;
- Ultrasound measurement of vmo fibre angle and insertion level.
- Performed at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks.
Groups:
All performed SQC and IRQ to light fatigue alternate weeks and then randomized into a group.
- X1/week.
- X2/week.
- X3/week.
Results:
Fibre angle increased from 0-6 weeks. Those that stopped the angle reversed. The x1/week reversed a small amount. X2/week maintained the effect, x3 increased fibre angle further.
Insertion level very difficult to draw conclusions as results in this small sample not significant.
Implication:
To maintain muscle architecture changes, 2 exercises x2 a week was the minimum.
Of course in patients, the presence of pain may alter results, and the potential for increased function may help to maintain muscle architecture change.
If you want a light infographic on my previous vmo research then click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpZH9-702ls
I will alert anyone on my mailing list when this work is published so don’t forget to pop your email in at the bottom of the page.