Gender differences in pattern of hip and lumbopelvic rotation in people with low back pain.
BACKGROUND
Findings from previous studies suggest gender may affect the pattern of hip and lumbopelvic motion during a multi-segmental movement. To date, no studies have examined movement patterns and low back pain symptom behavior during hip lateral rotation.


METHODS
Forty-six people (27 males and 19 females) with low back pain were examined. Three-dimensional kinematic data and low back pain symptoms were recorded during active hip lateral rotation. Percent of maximum lumbopelvic rotation was calculated for each 10% increment of maximum active hip lateral rotation.


RESULTS
Men exhibited a greater percent of maximum lumbopelvic rotation (mean 49.3, SD 13.3) during the first 60% of hip lateral rotation than women (mean 36.2, SD 16.4) (P < 0.01). Nineteen (70.4%) of the men and seven (36.8%) of the women had pain with the hip lateral rotation test (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Men exhibited more lumbopelvic rotation in the early part of hip lateral rotation than women, and hip lateral rotation was more likely to be associated with symptoms in men than women. Greater lumbopelvic motion, earlier in hip lateral rotation, may make men more vulnerable to low back pain associated with hip lateral rotation. Factors that contribute to these gender differences should be investigated further.
Gombatto
Sara P
SP
Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8502, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. spgombat@artsci.wustl.edu
Collins
David R
DR
Sahrmann
Shirley A
SA
Engsberg
Jack R
JR
Van Dillen
Linda R
LR
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012399:Rotation; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors