Vastus+Intermedius


 * Author:** Zamanyuswa Ngcobo

toc =Description = Vastus intermedius is a small, thin muscle located between the two muscles; the vastus medialis and the vastus lateralis. It originates from the superior two thirds of the anterior and lateral surfaces of femur and from the lateral intermuscular septum of the thigh. Its fibers arise from the front and lateral surfaces of the body of the femur and they end in the superficial aponeurosis, which forms the deep part of the quadriceps femoris tendon. The vastus intermedius muscle runs inferiorly towards its point of insertion, where it then inserts on the patella via the quadriceps tendon and on the tibial tuberosity via the patellar tendon. It is supplied by L2, L3 and L4 muscular branches of the femoral nerve and the blood is supplied by lateral circumflex femoral artery. This muscle extends the knee and we use this muscle for walking in our everyday life.

=Interactions and relations to other Muscles = Vastus intermedius lies in between two muscles; the vastus medialis and the vastus lateralis. It lies deep to the rectus femoris and oblique and superior to the vastus intermediate the sartorius muscle. It carries out its action of extending the knee joint with the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, thus making these muscles its synergists. The muscles which antagonize this muscle are the muscles of the hamstring group which are; the semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris.

=Relevance to Physiotherapy = As physiotherapist we interact with patients who are coming from the surgery and are unable to perform movements to full range of motion,some of them can't even walk.Physiotherapy exercises are very important aspect of the imperative and rehabilitation after surgery. After a surgery a patient should start exercises which are very useful because when the muscles are not being used they become weak and they fail to fulfil their proper actions.Vastus intermediate is one of the quadraceps muscles which is a muscle responsible for Knee extension. After some weeks of knee surgery a physiotherapist will work quadriceps muscle to achieve certain goals like, Independence in walking,getting up and getting up and down the stairs. After achieving these goals the physiotherapist will help the patient with the movements until the patient is able to perform the movements in the full range of motion.Then the physiotherapist will work the muscles even more stronger and harder so that the muscle will be stronger again and be able to perform activities like, climbing mountains,running jumping etc.

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