Sex differences in factors of pelvis and lower-limb joint kinematics influencing dynamic knee valgus during single-leg squat

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Takeuchi, Ryosuke^{a; b} | Iwamoto, Yoshitaka^{a; c; *} | Kawakami, Wataru^{a; d} | Takeuchi, Yasutaka^{a; e} | Miyoshi, Fumiya^{a; f} | Ishii, Yosuke^{a; c} | Takahashi, Makoto^{a; c}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neuromechanics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan | [b] Department of Rehabilitation, Juko Memorial Hospital, Aichi, Japan | [c] Center for Advanced Practice and Research of Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan | [d] Department of Rehabilitation, Institute of Brain and Blood Vessel, Mihara Memorial Hospital, Isesaki, Gunnma, Japan | [e] Division of Rehabilitation, Kurume University Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan | [f] Department of Rehabilitation, Chugoku Rosai Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Yoshitaka Iwamoto, Department of Neuromechanics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 2-3, Kasumi 1-chome, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan. E-mail: iwamo10@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) during dynamic activity is associated with patellofemoral pain, one of the most common sports disorders, especially in females. No studies have examined the factors that can lead to DKV in females as compared to males while addressing the influence of factors on each other. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors of pelvis and lower joints kinematics affecting DKV during single-leg squat (SLS) in females compared to males with multiple regression analysis. METHODS: Forty-four healthy young people (24 females, 20 males) performed SLS, and pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle 3D kinematics were recorded. The 2D knee frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) was adopted as the DKV measurement. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between FPPA and the kinematics of each joint and segment. RESULTS: Hip adduction and pelvic contralateral rotation were explanatory factors for FPPA in females. Hip adduction, hip internal rotation, and knee external rotation were explanatory factors in males. CONCLUSIONS: The lower limb or pelvic motion factors affecting DKV during SLS differ between the sexes, with pelvic contralateral rotation being extracted only in women, possibly due to differences in pelvic width.

Keywords: Knee injury, pelvis, sex characteristic, regression analysis

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-230086

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 205-211, 2024