Lack of effect of superficial heat to the knee on quadriceps function in individuals with quadriceps inhibition (original) (raw)

Quadriceps function improves after application of focal joint cooling or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to the knee in patients with arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI), yet it is not known whether superficial heat is able to produce a similar effect. To determine quadriceps function after superficial heat to the knee joint in individuals with AMI. Single blinded randomized crossover. Laboratory. 12 subjects (4 female, 8 males; 25.6 ± 7.7 y, 177.2 ± 12.7 cm, 78.4 ± 18.2 kg) with a history of knee-joint pathology and AMI, determined with a quadriceps central activation ratio (CAR) of <90%. 3 treatment conditions for 15 min on separate days: superficial heat using a cervical moist-heat pack (77 °C), sham using a cervical moist pack (room temperature at about 24 °C), and control (no treatment). All subjects received all treatment conditions in a randomized order. Central activation ratio and knee-extension torque during maximal voluntary isometric contraction with the k...