Differences in Lower Extremity Anatomical and Postural Characteristics in Males and Females Between Maturation Groups

Abstract

Descriptive, cross-sectional.We compared lower extremity anatomical characteristics in males and females between different maturation groups.Sex differences have been observed in lower extremity anatomical characteristics. While the reasons contributing to these sex differences in adults are unknown, there is evidence that anatomy and posture change considerably during growth and development.One hundred seventy-three young athletes (age range, 9-18 years) were assessed for stage of maturation and placed into 1 of 3 groups, according to Tanners stages 1 and 2 (MatGrp 1 ), 3 and 4 (MatGrp 2 ), and 5 (MatGrp 3 ). Participants were measured for pelvic angle, hip anteversion, quadriceps angle, tibiofemoral angle, femur length, tibial length, genu recurvatum, tibial torsion, navicular drop, general joint laxity, and anterior knee laxity. Data were compared by sex and maturation group.When comparing maturation groups, limb length, pelvic angle, and tibial torsion increased with maturation, and anterior knee laxity, genu recurvatum, tibiofemoral angle, and foot pronation decreased with maturation. Females had greater general joint laxity, hip anteversion, and tibiofemoral angles, and shorter femur and tibial lengths than males, regardless of maturation group. Maturational changes in knee laxity and quadriceps angles were sex dependent.We observed a general change in posture with maturation that began with greater knee valgus, knee recurvatum, and foot pronation in MatGrp1, then moved toward a relative straightening and external rotation of the knee, and supination of the foot in later maturation groups. While the majority of the measures changed similarly in males and females across maturation groups, decreases in quadriceps angles and anterior knee laxity were greater in males compared to females, and females were observed to have a more inwardly rotated hip and valgus knee posture, compared to males, particularly in later maturation groups.Diagnosis, level 4.

Relationships Between Lower Extremity Alignment and the Quadriceps Angle

“…All alignment characteristics were measured using identical techniques that have been previously described in detail 25,28–30 . Q angle was measured in the standardized stance using a goniometer and represented the angle formed by a line from the anterior superior iliac spine to the patella center and a line from the patella center to the tibial tuberosity.…”

Lean Mass Asymmetry Influences Force and Power Asymmetry During Jumping in Collegiate Athletes

“…Greater levels of joint laxity are risk factors for noncontact ACL injuries (29) and are associated with excessive frontal and rotational plane motion. These motions increase ACL loading (18) and are associated with high risk movements such as dynamic knee valgus (26). Following injury, loss of lean mass may be limited to the involved limb thereby creating an asymmetry in force production capacity and subsequent performance during a vertical jump (9, 28).…”

ACL Injuries in the Female Athlete

“…For instance, during the loading phase of level walking, ACL-de fi cient subjects have signi fi cantly decreased external knee fl exion moments and increased external knee extension moments compared to uninjured control subjects (Fig. The quadriceps avoidance gait pattern has been identi fi ed in ACL-de fi cient knees in several investigations including 16 of 32 (50 %) knees (that also had varus malalignment) in the authors' laboratory [ 123 ] , 7 of 8 subjects >7 years post-injury in an investigation by Wexler et al [ 161 ] , and 12 of 16 (75 %) subjects in a study by Berchuck et al [ 20 ] . The quadriceps avoidance gait pattern has been identi fi ed in ACL-de fi cient knees in several investigations including 16 of 32 (50 %) knees (that also had varus malalignment) in the authors' laboratory [ 123 ] , 7 of 8 subjects >7 years post-injury in an investigation by Wexler et al [ 161 ] , and 12 of 16 (75 %) subjects in a study by Berchuck et al [ 20 ] .…”