title: Hip strength and knee pain in females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor alignment between the patella, tibia, and femur has been identified as a primary cause of anterior knee pain. More recently, impaired hip strength has been discussed as a possible reason for the onset of knee pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine if individuals with knee pain had weakness in the hip muscles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen females between the ages of 18 and 40, experiencing unilateral knee pain for no greater than four weeks, were examined. Bilateral gluteus maximus and medius strength were measured with a MicroFET hand-held dynamometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strength of the gluteus medius and maximus muscles were significantly less in the extremities of patients experiencing knee pain than the extremity without knee pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given biomechanical relationships between the hip and knee, examining the entire lower kinetic chain should occur when evaluating patients with knee pain. Using impairment-based interventions, such as addressing hip strength in addition to knee pain, may enhance intervention effectiveness. Results of this study provide data that suggest that individuals with knee pain had weak hip muscles.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shafer
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Terre
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dunning
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mattson