The impact of physiotherapy on the quadriceps femoris cross-section and function

Problem of study: aging has an effect on constitutional and functional muscle changes. With aging individual physical strength weakness, and muscle mass declines as well. Muscle weakness and functional decline can be a reason for diseases and disability, human body atrophies, daily activities getting more and more difficult and finally increases in the risk of falls. We practiced a wide range of physiotherapy programs in order to increase muscle strength and mass. We evaluated how various physiotherapy programmes affect the functional capacity (strength) and cross-section of quadriceps femoris in older populations. Object of study: quadriceps femoris cross-section, strength, thigh circumference and subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness changes while applying various physiotherapy programs. Aim of study: to explore the impact of various physiotherapy programs for quadriceps femoris cross-section and functional capacity to the older patients. Goals of study: 1. To determine quadriceps femoris cross-section, subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness of anterior surface fluctuation, when the physical exercises and electrical muscle stimulation are applied together or separately. 2. To determine quadriceps femoris muscle strength fluctuation, when the physical exercises and electrical muscle stimulation are applied together or separately. 3. To determine thigh circumference fluctuation, when the physical exercises and electrical muscle stimulation are applied together or separately. Hypothesis of study: we assumed that electrical muscle stimulation and physical exercises applied together has greater impact on the strength and cross-section of quadriceps femoris that applied separately. Methods and organization of study: the study was performed in a public institution, Kaunas hospice during 2007-2008. Participants of the study were elderly peoples. Participants were divided into three groups of 10 subjects. For the first group, we applied the exercises that trained the strength of quadriceps femoris muscle, for the second group electrical stimulation and strength exercises were applied, and for the last – third group, we applied just electrical muscle stimulation. For all three groups, before physiotherapy, after four and eight weeks we measured muscle cross-section, applied dynamometry and anthropometry. Conclusions: 1. For the purpose of physical exercise and electrical muscle stimulation together and separately for 8 weeks quadriceps femoris cross-section increased, and the biggest changes are observed when the exercise in conjunction with electrical muscle stimulation. 2. For the purpose of physical exercise and electrical muscle stimulation together and separately anterior surface of the thigh circumference subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness increase statistically significant in the 1-4 week, 5-8 week a statistically significant increase was only then using the electrical muscle stimulation. 3. For the purpose of physical exercise and electrical muscle stimulation or physical exercise participants quadriceps muscle strength increased by a statistically significant, but using only the electrical muscle stimulation did not increase quadriceps muscle strength. 4. The thigh circumference increased by 8 weeks of the application of physical exercise and electrical muscle stimulation, a slightly smaller change in the application of only a physical exercise, and electrical muscle stimulation did not gave the significant results