Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Biography

Biography: Abdullah S Bin Hussein

Abstract

Purpose: Available research is limited and conflicting with regard to the role of the hip muscles in controlling knee valgus. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate whether hip muscle’s strength is significantly related to peak knee valgus angle (PKVA) during a single leg squat in healthy subjects. Methods: A correlational research design was chosen to test the hypotheses of this study in 30 healthy subjects    (17 males and 13 females). Procedures included isometric strength testing using the DILLON ED junior dynamometer for hip (abduction/ adduction, flexion/extension, and internal/external rotation). Subjects were videotaped as they performed single leg squats using two digital video cameras. Video data for squat trials were analyzed using the silicon COACH Pro Version 6. Results: ICC values indicated excellent reliability for PKVA and knee flexion angle, 0.948 and 0.933, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients demonstrated significant negative relationships between hip abduction (r = -0.550), adduction (r = -0.475), extension (r = -0.421), and PKVA. Linear regression analysis revealed that hip extensors, abductors, adductors accounted for 17.7%, 30.3% and 26.6% respectively, of variance in PKVA. Conclusions: Silicon COACH by one rater produced a reliable measurement of knee angle in frontal plane during single leg squat in healthy population. Decreased isometric strength of hip abductors, adductors and extensors was closely associated with increased peak valgus angle at the knee. This relationship is of clinical relevance when designing rehabilitative and injury prevention strengthening programs. Implications: The current study provided some support that excessive knee valgus is potentially associated with poor hip control in the frontal plane. Identifying the effect of muscular strength on the frontal plane position offers the potential for intervention, hence reducing the effect of malalignment