Are Altered Kinematics in Runners With Patellofemoral Pain Sex Specific?

BACKGROUND

Altered kinematics have been frequently observed in runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP), and few studies have aimed to understand the influence of sex on kinematics of this population. The aim of this study was to investigate whether altered hip and knee kinematics in runners with PFP are sex specific.

HYPOTHESIS

Kinematics will be different between female and male runners with and without PFP.

STUDY DESIGN

Case-control study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 2.

METHODS

Eighty-four runners were divided into 4 groups: 42 runners with PFP (20 women, 22 men) and 42 asymptomatic runners (21 women, 21 men). Three-dimensional gait analyses of the hip in the frontal and transverse plane and the knee in the frontal plane were analyzed at self-selected running speed on a treadmill. One-way analysis of covariance was used to test for differences in kinematic variables between groups.

RESULTS

Women with PFP ran with a significantly greater peak hip adduction compared with men with PFP (mean difference [MD] = 4.45°; = 0.00; effect size [ES] = 0.58) and male control subjects (MD = 4.2°; = 0.01; ES = 0.54) and greater hip adduction range of motion (ROM) than men with PFP (MD = 3.44°; = 0.01; ES = 0.49). No significant differences were identified between women with and without PFP. Female control subjects ran with greater peak hip adduction than men with PFP (MD = 5.46°; < 0.01; ES = 0.58) and male control subjects (MD = 5.21°; < 0.01; ES = 0.55); greater hip adduction ROM than men with PFP (MD = 4.02°; = 0.00; ES = 0.52) and male control subjects (MD = 2.91°; = 0.04; ES = 0.36); and greater peak knee abduction than men with PFP (MD = 3.35°; = 0.02; ES = 0.44) and male control subjects (MD = 3.69°; = 0.01; ES = 0.4).

CONCLUSION

Women have greater hip adduction than men regardless of the presence of PFP. There were no kinematics difference between women with and without PFP. Comparisons of hip internal rotation between all groups were nonsignificant.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Altered hip and knee kinematics does not appear to be sex specific in runners with PFP.