Download The Quadriceps - Robinson Physical Therapy

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Health Center New
Volume 3, Issue 3
AQUA
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FOR YOU!!!
August 2006
Muscle 101: The Quadriceps
THERAPY
SPORTS
PERFORMANCE
In the first addition of Muscle 101, I have chosen to discuss the Quadriceps muscle group. There are four muscles that make up the quadriceps: the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius and vastus medialis oblique. These muscles cross over three joints: the hip, knee, and the kneecap (patellofemoral joint),
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attaching at the patella on the front of the knee. (See photo)
Robinson Physical Therapy
& Health Center, Inc.
5635 Steubenville Pike,
Route 60
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Phone: 412-787-8616
Fax: 412-787-8618
Email: [email protected]
Inside this issue:
Muscle 101:
The Quadriceps
1
Preventing
Heat Illness
2
Sportsmetrics
2-3
Community Outreach 3-4
Questions?
Comments?
Please feel
free to reach
me at any
time via
email, fax,
Chris Marrone, or telephone. I
MPT, ATC
hope that
Editor
you enjoy
this issue of Robinson
Physical Therapy & Health
Center News!!!
FOR YOU!!!
Scott Colombo,
PT, CSCS
Director
As a physical therapist, I look for movement impairments that can contribute to a
patient’s health and can cause pain that limits their function. Muscles are just
one system that I look at for these impairments.
Muscles have a responsibility as a prime mover, can assist a movement called a
synergist and subsequently can also be a neutralizer to a joint. I look at all three throughout different regions of the body when examining a patient who presents with musculoskeletal pain.
Contraction of a skeletal muscle can take on three forms. The primary movement responsibility of
that muscle is called a concentric contraction. This is when the muscle fibers contract closer. When
the muscle helps control or is getting prepared to contract it is called an eccentric contraction. This
is when the muscle fibers are lengthening. The last contraction is where the muscle is contracted
but neither is shortening or lengthening. This is called an isometric contraction.
The quadriceps are the prime mover to straighten the knee. It is a synergist muscle-assisting the hip
to bend up into flexion. The vastus medialis obliques (VMO) muscle along with the vastus intermedius helps to neutralize the forces to the kneecap at the front of the knee. The concentric muscle
contraction of the quadriceps is to straighten the knee (knee extension). The eccentric contraction
of the quadriceps muscle occurs to help control knee bend (flexion) and prepare the muscle for
forces against gravity to extend the knee such as in a jump. The VMO works to stabilize the kneecap in its track using both an isometric and concentric contraction.
Many injuries can occur to the quadriceps. One is
tendonitis, where the muscle attachment has been
overloaded in its eccentric contraction and is not
strong enough. Another is a muscle-tear, with the
same etiology of overload and a lack of muscle balance in flexibility and strength.
Exercises to strengthen the quadriceps would be
knee extension, or step up and step-downs. Just
tightening the quadriceps with the knee straight,
called quad sets, can help the isometric contraction.
Equipment that is used to strengthen the quadriceps
is the leg press, leg extension, and hack squat.
The quadriceps is just one group of muscles that
contribute in many ways to the better health of the
lower extremities. You can learn more about the
quadriceps and its role in the knee and hip by calling
me at the office.
Page 2
Robinson Physical Therapy & Health Center News
Acclimation is Key to Preventing Heat Illness
By Chris Marrone
August is upon us, and those “dog days of summer” are here. For those who already went on vacation, I bet you are wishing you did
not have to come back so soon. And for those who are looking forward to an August vacation, well, you just cannot wait until that
day has come. Either way, we cannot speed time up or slow it down. August will fly by us and it will mean one thing—school is
soon back in session. More teachers, more books, and, yes, more of those teachers’ dirty looks.
August is also a time for school sports teams to begin conditioning to prepare for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, this coincides
with some of the hottest days of the year. Heat takes its toll on everyone, but it especially can be physically and mentally draining
for high school, college, and professional football players. These extreme temperatures should not be taken lightly and can lead to
death if certain precautions are not in place. As a matter of fact, in eight of the past ten summers, at least one high school football
player has lost his life because of heat related illness. While these events are tragic, we can take these unfortunate events and turn
them into a learning experience so that history is not doomed to repeat itself.
The most important concept is acclimation. Acclimation is the body’s ability to adapt to changing climate conditions in order to cool
itself effectively and efficiently. This process can take anywhere from 10-14 days, depending on each athlete’s conditioning level at
the start of camp/practice. Why so long, you ask? Well, take our seasonal changes as an example. How would your body feel if,
overnight, it went from 35º outside to 95º ? You would be in shock, right? You would rather have that nice gradual change, as takes
place in spring. The same goes for athletes, especially football athletes with heavy football pads and a helmet, which can amplify
effects of heat. Athletes need acclimation. The following can be used as a guideline for acclimating athletes and will help
prevent heat related illnesses:
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Hold meetings with prospective players and their parents to discuss preparation for preseason practices.
Distribute pre-season conditioning programs. Recommend that athletes start with 15-20 minutes of continuous
exercise outside, and add 5-10 minutes each day in the weeks preceding practice/camp.
Integrate uniform changes: over the course of a week, move from helmets only, to helmets and shoulder pads, to
full pads and uniforms.
Create a practice schedule that minimizes exposure to extreme heat. Avoid mid-day heat by holding early morning
and late afternoon practices.
Take frequent water breaks to keep athletes properly hydrated. Ideally, when athletes are sweating, they should
replace fluid and electrolyte loss every 15-20 minutes.
o Use ice cold water or a sport drink high in electrolytes such as Gatorade.
By following these guidelines and by using some common sense, you can help to prevent heat related illnesses. This will in turn
maximize the athletes potential. For more information you can contact me via email or by telephone.
REFERENCES: July 2006 NATA News, news magazine for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
Sportsmetrics!
What is Sportsmetrics? Sportsmetrics is a scientifically proven injury prevention program. Wim Rogers, physical
therapist/athletic trainer at Robinson Physical Therapy & Health Center, has recently been certified in Sportsmetrics
through Cincinnati Sports Medicine Research and Education Foundation.
Wim Rogers,
MPT, ATC
Serious knee ligament injuries by female athletes have reached epidemic proportions. A female athlete has a 2-10
fold increased risk of suffering a serious knee injury as compared to their male counterparts. High school female athletes will sustain a serious knee injury at a rate of 1 out of 100! If they go on to college that rate of injury increases to
1 in 10! Most of these injuries require surgical intervention and extensive rehabilitation. The majority of these patients lose an entire season, possibly scholarship funding, and some suffer lowered academic performance and class
attendance as a result.
Volume 3, Issue 3
Page 3
Sportsmetrics (Cont.)
Sportsmetrics is the only published, scientifically proven training program that significantly reduces the risk of serious knee ligament
injuries in young female athletes.
Sportsmetrics involves evaluation of jumping and landing technique, instruction in proper technique, and advancement and training
on a specific strengthening/sports specific program. The basis for the training programs is the Six-Week Jump Training Program.
Jump Training incorporates proper stretching, special plyometric exercises, and weight training. It focuses on developing overall leg
strength as well as improved balance in strength from the front to the back of the thigh. Through a specialized progression of jump/
plyometric drills, athletes learn proper techniques for jumping and landing; increase overall leg strength; and improve symmetry in
right to left leg power. A secondary benefit of the Sportsmetrics program is improved vertical jump!
Although the program was designed for the female athlete due to their increased risk of injury, the male athlete can also benefit from
the program. Particularly the young male athlete!
Robinson Physical Therapy & Health Center is now Certified as a Clinical Site by Cincinnati Sports Medicine Research and Education Foundation. This certification allows us to offer Sportsmetrics to the athletic population! Why work so hard at your game only
to be setback because of a knee injury! Contact Robinson Physical Therapy & Health Center for further information! Or visit our
website at www.robinsonpt.com and click on the Sportsmetrics link!
Pictures from the Sportsmetrics Certification Program
While attending the Sportsmetrics seminar, Wim was able to meet some of the most prominent leaders in the field.
Wim with Frank R. Noyes, M.D.
Wim with Kevin E. Wilk, DPT
Reaching Out to the Surrounding Community
As many of you know, we are the healthcare providers of Bishop Canevin High School. We recently participated in the Bishop
Canevin Crusader Kids Summer Football Camp, which was held at Bishop Canevin High School. During this camp, which was
held in the third week of July, Scott Columbo of Robinson Physical Therapy demonstrated a Speed Clinic. The purpose was to help
teach kids the basic mechanics/techniques/postures involved in developing better quickness and agility. Turn to the back cover for a
few pictures from that day!
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FOR YOU!!!
Robinson Physical Therapy
& Health Center, Inc.
5635 Steubenville Pike
Route 60
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Phone: 412-787-8616
Fax: 412-787-8618
Email: [email protected]
Http://www.robinsonpt.com