Relationship between frontal plane projection angle of the knee and hip and trunk strength in women with and without patellofemoral pain

• Published in: Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 259 - 266
• Main Authors: Almeida, Gabriel Peixoto Leão, Silva, Ana Paula de Moura Campos Carvalho E, França, Fábio Jorge Renovato, Magalhães, Maurício Oliveira, Burke, Thomaz Nogueira, Marques, Amélia Pasqual
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 27.04.2016
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hip Joint - physiopathology; Humans; Knee Joint - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle Weakness - physiopathology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome - physiopathology; Rotation; Torque; Torso - physiopathology; Young Adult; muscle strength dynamometer; knee injuries; Patellofemoral joint; biomechanics; kinematic
• ISSN: 1053-8127; 1878-6324
• DOI: 10.3233/BMR-150622

It is theorized that increased dynamic knee valgus relates to decreased hip posterolateral muscle strength. The aim here was to assess the relationship between the frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) of the knee and hip and trunk muscle strength in women with and without patellofemoral pain (PFP). The sample comprised 43 women: Patellofemoral Pain Group (PPG, n = 22) and Control Group (CG, n = 21). Muscle strength for hip abduction, extension, external rotation and lateral core were measured using a handheld dynamometer. The FPPA was recorded during step-down. The PPG showed a deficit for hip muscles torque and increased FPPA (P < 0.05). Negative correlation of the FPPA-Peak was found in the CG for the hip abductor (r = -0.31) and posterolateral complex (r = -0.32) (P < 0.05). In the PPG, the FPPA-Peak showed a moderate negative correlation to the torque of external rotators and posterolateral hip muscles, although this correlation did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that women with patellofemoral pain present greater dynamic knee valgus and hip muscle weakness. Abductor and posterolateral hip muscles strength are associated with increased FPPA only in the pain-free population.