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Reliability of a novel approach for quadriceps motor point assessment
Ada Weiss1, Neal R Glaviano2, Jacob Resch3
1Department of Sports Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Introduction:
We studied the ability of clinicians to identify quadriceps motor points using a transcutaneous electrical stimulation unit (TENS).
Methods:
Twenty-two certified athletic trainers and 1 expert-rater identified the 7 motor points of the quadriceps at 2 time-points separated by 1 week. The difference was calculated between where each participant and the expert-rater identified each motor point using an x-y coordinate system. Bland-Altman plots were used to compare differences between 2 testing sessions.
Results:
No differences were observed between participants and the expert-rater for motor point location. The smallest variability in the limits of agreements were observed in the distal vastus medialis oblique (-1.89 to 1.86 cm) and proximal vastus lateralis (-1.61 to 2.35 cm).
Discussion:
Our results suggest the utilization of a TENS unit may be 1 way to identify quadriceps motor points to improve electrical stimulation applications. The smallest limits of agreement were over the most common quadriceps electrical stimulation electrode positions. Muscle Nerve 57: E1-E7, 2018.
