Rectus femoris: its role in normal gait.

Abstract

To analyze the role of the rectus femoris muscle in nondisabled gait at various walking velocities using fine-wire dynamic electromyography. Descriptive study. Fine-wire electromyography data were collected from the rectus femoris during level walking at four walking speeds. Rectus femoris activity patterns in the loading response phase and the pre- and initial-swing phase of the gait cycle were compared using paired t tests. A gait laboratory. Ten nondisabled adult volunteers. Amplitude of rectus femoris activity in the loading response phase and the pre- and initial-swing phase during walking at four speeds. There was a bimodal pattern of rectus femoris activity in all subjects, at all speeds, in both phases, with high variability in the onsets, durations, and amplitudes of activity, and paired t tests revealed no significant differences (p > .05) between phases at any walking speed. Activity in the rectus femoris in the pre- and initial-swing phase in nondisabled individuals at all speeds suggests that similar activity detected in individuals with stiff-legged gait may not be inappropriate.