Is bilateral quadriceps inhibition in unilateral anterior knee pain attributable to gamma loop dysfunction?

Ingram, Tony (2014) Is bilateral quadriceps inhibition in unilateral anterior knee pain attributable to gamma loop dysfunction? Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (819kB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

A growing body of literature is revealing that unilateral knee pathology can cause bilateral quadriceps inhibition. The mechanisms by which these bilateral deficits occur are poorly understood. Research on knee ligament injury and osteoarthritis appears to indicate a link between traumatic disruption of sensory structures in the knee and a dysfunction of the gamma loop. Disruption of sensory structures appears to reduce afferent feedback to the gamma loop, and an intact gamma loop is necessary to achieve full muscle activation bilaterally. However, bilateral quadriceps inhibition is also seen in unilateral anterior knee pain conditions in which there is no obvious damage to the sensory structures of the knee. The purpose of this study was to determine the existence of gamma loop dysfunction in individuals with unilateral anterior knee pain to investigate its role as a mechanism for bilateral deficits.

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