title: Relationship between eccentric hip torque and lower-limb kinematics: gender differences.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to compare lower-limb kinematics between genders, and determine the relationships among eccentric hip abductor and lateral rotator torques and lower-limb kinematics. The movements of the pelvis, femur, and knee were calculated for 16 women and 16 men during the single-leg squat. Eccentric hip abductor and lateral rotator torques were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. The results showed that women had greater contralateral pelvic depression, femur adduction, and knee abduction than men. The eccentric hip abductor and lateral rotator torques were correlated with coronal plane femur and knee movements in the overall sample. When the genders were analyzed separately, it was observed that women with greater eccentric hip abductor torque exhibited less femur adduction and femur medial rotation, and greater knee adduction excursion. No significant relationship was observed between the isokinetic and kinematic variables in the male group. The differences between the genders help to explain the greater rate of knee disorders observed in women. Moreover, the eccentric hip abduction action seemed to be more important in women to control the lower-limb movements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, São Carlos Federal University, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo de Marche
authors.initials: Rde M
authors.lastname: Baldon
authors.forename: Ferreira Moreira
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lobato D
authors.forename: Livia Pinheiro
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Roberto Pereira
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Santiago P
authors.forename: Benedito Galvao
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Benze
authors.forename: Fabio Viadanna
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Serrão
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult