title: Effects of tibial rotation on Ober's test and patellar tracking.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tibial position on ITB flexibility and patellar position.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 31 asymptomatic subjects (21 males, 10 females) were recruited for this investigation. Adduction angle was measured by Ober's test, and PCD was measured by ultrasonography in three different tibial rotation conditions: N, IR, and ER.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant difference in adduction angle and PCD among three different tibial positions (P<0.05). Adduction angle was significantly greater in the N tibial position than in ER (P<0.05). The PCD was significantly greater in N position than in IR (P<0.05). However, the PCD was significantly smaller in IR compared with the N position (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support that tibial rotation influences the flexibility of ITB and patellar positions. Therefore, excessive tibial rotation can cause inappropriate patellar positions that eventually lead to knee injury. Therapists should consider tibial rotation when measuring adduction angles because tibial rotation can change Ober's test results and contribute to the consistency of ITB length measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Gangwon-do 220-710, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joo-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Gangwon-do 220-710, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Baekseok University, 76, Munam-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Dae
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Choung
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hyeseonj@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hye-Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Oh-Yun
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012399:Rotation; D013977:Tibia / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Iliotibial band; Ober's test; Patella position; Tibial rotation; Ultrasonography