Hip abductor, trunk extensor and ankle plantar flexor endurance in females with and without patellofemoral pain.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have reported strength deficit in hip abduction, extension and external rotation in females with patellofemoral pain (PFP) when compared with healthy control; however, there is conflicting evidence for a decrease in hip muscle endurance. Therefore, it seems important to evaluate hip muscle endurance in females with PFP. Moreover, trunk extensor and ankle plantar flexor endurance have not yet been evaluate in females with PFP.


OBJECTIVE
To compare hip abductor, trunk extensor and ankle plantar flexor endurance between females with and without PFP.


METHODS
Twenty females with PFP (mean age, 21.1 years) and 76 healthy females (mean age, 20.5 years) were recruited. Subject performed three endurance clinical tests: (1) The hip abductor isometric endurance test, (2) The Sorensen test and (3) The heel rise test. Group differences were assessed using an independent t tests, or Mann-Whitney U tests for non-normally distributed data.


RESULTS
Subjects with PFP exhibited significantly lower hip abductor, trunk extensor and ankle plantar flexor endurance than healthy controls. On average, subjects with PFP had deficits of 16% in hip abduction, 14% in trunk extension and 26% in ankle plantar flexion.


CONCLUSIONS
Females with PFP exhibited diminished hip abductor, trunk extensor and ankle plantar flexor endurance compared to healthy controls.
Department of Physical Therapy, Institut Parnasse-ISEI, Brussels, Belgium.|Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Joachim
J
Van Cant
CARS institute, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Laurent
L
Pitance
Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Véronique
V
Feipel
D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012399:Rotation; D060726:Torso / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
Anterior knee pain; clinical tests; muscles performance; patellofemoral joint