The activity of rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles of soccer players by simulated soccer test during landing: A Clinical Trial Study

This study aimed to investigate the activity of soccer players’ rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles by simulated soccer tests during landing.

The timing and activity of rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles of soccer players (15 subjects) during different periods of the test (i.e., before the test, immediately after 1st and 2nd half of the test) were investigated. A surface electromyography device (ME6000) was used to collect data during single leg drop (before the game, after the first and the second half time). Descriptive and repeated measures of ANOVA were used to analyze data.

The results of this study show that fatigue affects the timing of muscles, but in different periods of the test, it wasn’t significant (P>0.05, F=2.95, F=2.82). Significant differences were observed for the feed-forward activity of vastus medialis (P≤0.05, F=4.55), but for rectos, femoris, it wasn't significant (P>0.05, F=1.68), but significant differences weren't observed for feedback activity of rectos femoris and vastus medialis (P>0.05, F=2.46, F=0.55).

Our results show that fatigue doesn't affect the timing of muscles during different periods of the test, but a difference was found for the feedforward activity of the vastus medialis muscle. Regarding the results, a comprehensive investigation of the effects of fatigue on the rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles and their effects on the knee joint during long-term studies is suggested.