Dynamic valgus alignment and functional strength in males and females during maturation.
BACKGROUND
Sex differences in dynamic measures have been established in physically mature populations. Gaining information on maturation's effect on dynamic performance measures implicated in injury risk may enable us to better design injury prevention programs.


OBJECTIVE
To examine sex differences in dynamic valgus alignment and triple-hop distance measures across maturational stages in males and females. A secondary purpose was to determine if a field test of strength and power predicts dynamic valgus alignment.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
157 young athletes (78 females, 79 males) aged 9 to 18 years.


METHODS
Subjects performed drop-jump landings and single-leg triple-hop tests as part of a broader injury screening.


METHODS
Maturational status was ascertained from self-report questionnaires and grouped according to Tanner stages 1 and 2 (MatGrp1), 3 and 4 (MatGrp2), and 5 (MatGrp3). Frontal-plane knee valgus displacement, which served as a measure of dynamic valgus alignment, and single-leg triple-hop distance were assessed.


RESULTS
Males demonstrated less dynamic valgus alignment during drop jumps in the latter maturational stages (MatGrp1 = 13.1 degrees +/- 8.7 degrees , MatGrp2 = 9.0 degrees +/- 6.2 degrees , MatGrp3 = 9.2 degrees +/- 9.4 degrees ), whereas females increased dynamic valgus alignment throughout maturation (MatGrp1 = 11.5 degrees +/- 6.9 degrees , MatGrp2 = 12.8 degrees +/- 8.8 degrees , MatGrp3 = 15.5 degrees +/- 8.7 degrees ). Thus, in the more mature groups, males had less dynamic valgus alignment than females. Both males (MatGrp1 = 393.5 +/- 63.7 cm, MatGrp2 = 491.8 +/- 95.1 cm, MatGrp3 = 559.3 +/- 76.3 cm) and females (MatGrp1 = 360.3 +/- 37.1 cm, MatGrp2 = 380.1 +/- 44.3 cm, MatGrp3 = 440.0 +/- 66.2 cm) increased triple-hop distance, but males increased more. Within each subgroup of MatGrp and sex, triple-hop distance had no predictive ability for dynamic malalignment.


CONCLUSIONS
When dynamic valgus alignment and strength were assessed, sex and maturational status displayed an interaction. However, functional strength did not predict degree of dynamic valgus alignment.
Schmitz
Randy J
RJ
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, 250 Health and Human Performance Building, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA. rjschmit@uncg.edu
Shultz
Sandra J
SJ
Nguyen
Anh-Dung
AD
D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology