No Difference in Gluteus Medius Activation in Women With Mild Patellofemoral Pain.

Context: The gluteus medius (Gmed) is proposed to consist of 3 functional subdivisions (anterior, middle, and posterior). Gmed weakness and dysfunction have been implicated in numerous lower extremity disorders, including patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). PFPS is a knee condition that frequently occurs in females and is associated with activities such as squatting and stair climbing. There is a lack of evidence for the role of the subdivisions of the Gmed in females with and without PFPS. Objective: To compare muscle activation in the 3 Gmed subdivisions during 4 weight-bearing exercises in women with and without PFPS. Design: Single-session, repeated-measures observational study. Setting: University research laboratory. Participants: Convenience sample of 12 women with PFPS and 12 age- and gender-matched asymptomatic controls. Intervention: Participants performed 4 weight-bearing exercises (wall press, pelvic drop, step-up-and-over, and unilateral squat) 3 times while surface elec