Patellofemoral Pain Subjects Exhibit Decreased Passive Hip Range Of Motion Compared To Controls is an article in The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy by a team including our very own Sean Roach and Marc Lyda.
Background
Patellofemoral pain is a common condition without a clear mechanism for its presentation. Recently significant focus has been placed on the hip and its potential role in patellofemoral pain (PFP). The majority of the research has examined hip strength and neuromuscular control. Less attention has been given to hip mobility and its potential role in subjects with PFP.
Purpose/Aim
The purpose of this study was to compare the passive hip range of motion (ROM) of hip extension and hip internal and external rotation in subjects with PFP and healthy control subjects. The hypothesis was that subjects with PFP would present with less total hip ROM and greater asymmetry than controls.
Design
Two groups, case-controlled.
Setting
Clinical research laboratory
Participants
30 healthy subjects without pain, radicular symptoms or history of surgery in the low back or lower extremity joints and 30 subjects with a diagnosis of PFP.
Main Outcome Measures
Passive hip extension, hip internal rotation (IR) and hip external rotation (ER). A digital inclinometer was used for measurements.
Results
There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) in hip passive extension between the control group and the PFP group bilaterally. Mean hip extension for the control group was 6.8° bilaterally. For the PFP group, the mean hip extension was -4.0° on the left and -4.3° on the right. This corresponds to a difference of means between groups of 10.8° on the left and 11.1° on the right with a standard error of 2.1°. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in either hip IR or ER ROM or total rotation between or within groups.
Conclusions
The results of this study indicate that a significant difference in hip extension exists in subjects with PFP compared to controls. These findings suggest that passive hip extension is a variable that should be included within the clinical examination of people with PFP. It may be valuable to consider hip mobility restrictions and their potential impact on the assessment of strength and planned intervention in subjects with PFP.
Methods
A convenience sample of 30 volunteer subjects without PFP (13 males and 17 females; mean age 34.0+/-13.1 years; mean height, 171.5 cm+/- 11.9, mean body mass, 72.0 kg +/- 13.9, and 30 subjects with a diagnosis of PFP(9 males and 20 females; mean age 36+/- 13.7 years; mean height, 171.5 cm +/- 10.7, mean body mass, 69 kg+/- 13.8 were recruited. Control subjects were included if they reported no history of surgery of the spine, hips, knees; no history of neurological insult to the musculoskeletal system; and had no current acute pain of the hips, low back, or knees. PFP subjects selected for this study met the following inclusion criteria: generalized anterior, anterior/medial knee or retropatellar pain for 1 month or longer associated with prolonged sitting, ascending/descending stairs, sports activity, and/or running. Exclusion criteria for both groups included a history of patellar dislocation, cartilage or ligamentous damage, surgery for trauma to the knee, and a known history of osteoarthritis. All subjects were informed of the purpose of the study and signed an informed consent document prior to data collection.
Article source and list of references: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264939108_Patellofemoral_pain_subjects_exhibit_decreased_passive_hip_range_of_motion_compared_to_controls