Recording the vastii muscle onset timing as a diagnostic parameter for patellofemoral pain syndrome: fact or fad?

Abstract

Purpose and method: In this literature review, relevant studies on electromyographic (EMG) onset timing of vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis in people with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) were reviewed and discussed.

Conclusion: Studies had used diverse EMG signal processing and testing protocols, also only a half of their findings tended to support the notion that detection of EMG onset of the vastii muscles is diagnostically useful for identifying subjects with PFPS.