Introduction
We compared the region‐specific neuromuscular activation and muscle morphology along the rectus femoris (RF) muscle between young and elderly.
Methods
Ratios of surface electromyography amplitude between hip flexion and knee extension (HF/KE) were compared among regions along the muscle for 9 young and 9 elderly men. Muscle thickness was also compared among the regions.
Results
HF/KE in the proximal region was significantly greater than in the middle and distal regions for both the young and elderly (P < 0.05). However, a significant difference in HF/KE between the middle and distal regions was found in the young (P < 0.05), but not in the elderly (P > 0.05). A difference in the region‐specific muscle thickness was observed between the young and elderly.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that functional role and muscle morphology are regionally affected by aging along the RF muscle. Muscle Nerve 56: 982–986, 2017