Did you know we actually have six quadriceps, not four? These include: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and the articularis genu. All of these muscles are very important for proper function of the lower limb as a whole. The main joint these muscles act on is the knee. However, if the knee is unstable then so is the hip, the ankle, and the whole body system. So all six quads are very important to keep in balance to stabilize the body from head to toe!
Today’s focus is the knee. As wild as it seems, the big movers of the knee work to pull the patella laterally. The only muscle that opposes this action is the small VMO, so this little muscle must be strong or your knee will be in dysfunction and potentially in pain! Unfortunately, most of the exercises performed in the gym do not work to strengthen the VMO…resulting in a big muscle imbalance and instability of the joint. There are many surgeries that could have been prevented with a prescribed routine of proprioception, segmental strengthening and myofascial stretching of the surrounding muscles and ligaments of the knee!
If you would like to learn more about these techniques and help your clients eliminate pain and the chance of surgery, sign up for the Soma Training course, The Knee with Guy VOYER, DO October 6-8th 2017. Email info@h3bydan.com to add your name to the list!
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