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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1535141
This article is part of the Research Topic Biomechanical Performance and Relevant Mechanism of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for Neuromusculoskeletal Disorders, Volume II View all 12 articles

Comparison of Gluteal Muscle Central Activation in Individuals With and Without Patellofemoral Pain

Provisionally accepted
Kai-Yu Ho Kai-Yu Ho Michael Carpio Michael Carpio John Donohue John Donohue Jacob Kissman Jacob Kissman Jing Nong Liang Jing Nong Liang *
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Patellofemoral pain(PFP) is often linked to knee valgus during weight-bearing activities, commonly attributed to gluteal muscle weakness. However, recent research suggests that central nervous system adaptations may also influence muscle function and movement patterns in individuals with PFP. This study compared the central activation ratio(CAR) of the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus between individuals with and without PFP, and assessed the associations between gluteal CAR, frontal plane projection angle of the trunk and lower extremity, and knee function. Twelve individuals without PFP and 10 individuals with PFP participated. We tested CAR with a superimposed burst protocol during a maximum voluntary isometric contraction and evaluated frontal plane kinematics of the trunk and lower extremities during five single leg tasks. Participants with PFP also completed the Anterior Knee Pain Scale(AKPS). Independent t-tests compared CAR between groups, and Pearson correlation coefficients evaluated the associations between CAR, frontal plane kinematics, and AKPS. Individuals with PFP tended to have lower gluteus maximus CAR, though the difference was not statistically significant (PFP: 90.8 ± 0.7%, Control: 94.4 ± 0.3%; p = 0.07). CAR of both the gluteus maximus (R=0.79, p<0.01) and gluteus medius (R=0.58, p=0.04) were significantly correlated with AKPS scores, and gluteus maximus CAR was associated with trunk lean angle during single leg landing (R=0.533, p=0.006). Our data suggest that higher gluteal CAR is associated with better function in individuals with PFP. Lower gluteus maximus CAR may contribute to ipsilateral trunk lean during single leg landing, potentially to reduce external hip moments and muscle demand.

    Keywords: Patellofemoral pain, Central activation, Gluteal muscles, Frontal plane kinematics, superimposed burst technique

    Received: 26 Nov 2024; Accepted: 06 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Ho, Carpio, Donohue, Kissman and Liang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Jing Nong Liang, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.