Kelly's World

As part of my knee recovery, I’m using an EMS machine to help strengthen my Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO). This photo is of the pads that I stick on the muscle (and they’re incredibly cold when you first put them on!!!)

To use the machine, I simply stick these pads on the muscle (which runs down the inner side of my thigh), and switch it on. It flexes the muscle for a few seconds before releasing it, counts for a few seconds then repeats the process. During the flex, I have to work on flexing the muscle as well.

Using this machine helps my brain to re-learn how to use the muscle properly. This is the muscle that has been giving me so much grief for the last few months, and prevented me from doing any running. As mentioned previously, the VMO runs down the inner thigh and attaches onto the knee cap. As my VMO is so lazy and weak, my knee cap is getting displaced easily, causing the pain and swelling I’ve been getting in my leg.

Hopefully it will strengthen up fast and I will be back to running in no time. Fingers crossed!