Hip Abduction Torque Research Articles

Age-related changes in hip abductor and adductor joint torques

Johnson ME, Mille M-L, Martinez KM, Crombie G, Rogers MW. Age-related changes in hip abductor and adductor joint torques. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:593–7. Objective To test the hypothesis that older age significantly affects hip abduction and adduction joint torque-time generating capability in women. Design Cross-sectional study, wherein subjects were tested in a supported standing position. Setting University human performance laboratory. Participants Seventy-six healthy, adult women (38 young; 38 old). Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures The dependent variables were peak isometric torque and its corresponding torque rate and average peak isokinetic torque. Age group differences were assessed by analysis of variance. Results Isometric peak torques were significantly lower in older women ( P≤.001) for hip abduction (34%) and adduction (24%). Decreases with age were also significant for isometric rates of torque for both muscle groups ( P≤.001). Average isokinetic peak torque of hip abduction and adduction showed even greater declines in older women versus the young ( P≤.001) with losses of 44% and 56%, respectively. Conclusions The hip abductor and adductor torques showed relatively marked age-related changes. To enhance balance assessment and treatment, and to reduce the risk of falls and related injuries in older women, greater focus should be placed on understanding the role of joint torque-time changes on frontal plane balance control.

The Relationship between Hip Abductor Torque and Pelvic Tilt Angle in Normal Young Female Subjects

The Relationship between Hip Abductor Torque and Pelvic Tilt Angle in Normal Young Female Subjects

Body Composition Predicts Bone Mineral Density and Balance in Premenopausal Women

Low bone mineral density (BMD) and poor stability both contribute to increased risk of fractures associated with a fall. Our aim in this cross-sectional study was to determine the anthropometric and/or performance variables that best predicted BMD and stability in women. BMD, body composition, muscle strength, muscle power, and dynamic stability were evaluated in 61 women (age 40 +/- 4 years; % body fat 27% +/- 5%). In correlation analyses, BMD at all sites was significantly related to height, lean mass, strength, and leg power (r2 = 0.25-0.49). Significant inverse relationships were found between all independent variables and dynamic stability (r2 = 0.23-0.52). In stepwise regression, lean mass independently predicted BMD at the femoral neck (R2 = 0.20), total hip (R2 = 0.24), and whole body (R2 = 0.17), whereas hip abductor torque predicted 23% of the variance in trochanter BMD and added 6% to the variance in total hip BMD. Leg power was the only predictor of spine BMD (R2 = 0.14). Fat and lean mass both independently predicted poor performance on postural stability, with fat mass contributing 31% of the total variance (R2 = 0.38). In conclusion, we found lean mass to be a robust predictor of BMD in premenopausal women. Furthermore, both hip abductor torque and leg power independently predicted BMD at clinically relevant fracture sites (hip and spine). The finding that higher fat mass contributes to the majority of the variance in poor stability indicates that greater fat mass may compromise stability and, thus, increase fall risk in heavier individuals.

Hip abductor weakness in distance runners with iliotibial band syndrome.

To examine hip abductor strength in long-distance runners with iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), comparing their injured-limb strength to their nonaffected limb and to the limbs of a control group of healthy long-distance runners; and to determine whether correction of strength deficits in the hip abductors of the affected runners through a rehabilitation program correlates with a successful return to running. Case series. Stanford University Sports Medicine Clinics. 24 distance runners with ITBS (14 female, 10 male) were randomly selected from patients presenting to our Runners' Injury Clinic with history and physical examination findings typical for ITBS. The control group of 30 distance runners (14 females, 16 males) were randomly selected from the Stanford University Cross-Country and Track teams. Group differences in hip abductor strength, as measured by torque generated, were analyzed using separate two-tailed t-tests between the injured limb, non-injured limb, and the noninjured limbs of the control group. Prerehabilitation hip abductor torque for the injured runners was then compared with postrehabilitation torque after a 6-week rehabilitation program. Hip abductor torque was measured with the Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester (kg), and normalized for differences in height and weight among subjects to units of percent body weight times height (%BWh). Average prerehabilitation hip abductor torque of the injured females was 7.82%BWh versus 9.82%BWh for their noninjured limb and 10.19%BWh for the control group of female runners. Average prerehabilitation hip abductor torque of the injured males was 6.86%BWh versus 8.62%BWh for their noninjured limb and 9.73%BWh for the control group of male runners. All prerehabilitation group differences were statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level. The injured runners were then enrolled in a 6-week standardized rehabilitation protocol with special attention directed to strengthening the gluteus medius. After rehabilitation, the females demonstrated an average increase in hip abductor torque of 34.9% in the injured limb, and the males an average increase of 51.4%. After 6 weeks of rehabilitation, 22 of 24 athletes were pain free with all exercises and able to return to running, and at 6-months follow-up there were no reports of recurrence. Long distance runners with ITBS have weaker hip abduction strength in the affected leg compared with their unaffected leg and unaffected long-distance runners. Additionally, symptom improvement with a successful return to the preinjury training program parallels improvement in hip abductor strength.

Isometric strength measurements in children with arthritis: Reliability and relation to function

To examine the reliability of testing strength in children with juvenile arthritis (JA), and to determine the relationship between strength and function. Children with JA were tested for grip and pinch strength (n = 32). Isometric force produced by hip abductors and knee extensors was tested with a hand-held dynamometer (n = 29). Two therapists both performed each of the tests twice so that intrarater and interrater reliability could be examined. Function was measured by means of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and performance on a 50-meter run. Reliability was examined with intraclass correlations (ICC). The relationships of strength and function were determined with Pearson and Spearman correlations. All measures demonstrated good intrarater (ICC = 0.92-0.97) and interrater (ICC = 0.80-0.95) reliability. Grip strength and pinch were correlated with the CHAQ (r = -0.45 and -0.33, respectively), while hip abduction and knee extension torque were correlated with rankings on the 50-meter run (rho = -0.34 and -0.38, respectively). Isometric strength can be reliably measured in children with arthritis in a clinical setting.

Gait problems of children with DDH at walking age

Several studies have investigated walking characteristics in hip dysplasia patients, but so far none have described all hip rotational degrees of freedom during the whole gait cycle.This descriptive study reports 3D joint angles and torques, and furthermore extends previous studies with muscle and joint contact forces in 32 hip dysplasia patients and 32 matching controls.3D motion capture data from walking and standing trials were analysed. Hip, knee, ankle and pelvis angles were calculated with inverse kinematics for both standing and walking trials. Hip, knee and ankle torques were calculated with inverse dynamics, while hip muscle and joint contact forces were calculated with static optimisation for the walking trials.No differences were found between the two groups while standing. While walking, patients showed decreased hip extension, increased ankle pronation and increased hip abduction and external rotation torques. Furthermore, hip muscle forces were generally lower and shifted to more posteriorly situated muscles, while the hip joint contact force was lower and directed more superiorly.During walking, patients showed lower and more superiorly directed hip joint contact force, which might alleviate pain from an antero-superiorly degenerated joint.

Home program of physical therapy: Effect on disabilities of patients with total hip arthroplasty

Objective: To study the effect of a home program of physical therapy. Design: Nonrandomized control trial. Setting: Home based. Patients: Subjects had total hip arthroplasty (THA) for hip osteoarthritis (hip-OA) without THA failure, or cardiopulmonary, neurological, or cognitive problems. Twenty-three subjects (mean age 63.4 years; mean post-THA period 793 days, 6 to 48 months) were divided into 3 groups matching with age, gender, and postoperative periods. Intervention: The 6-week home program included range of motion (ROM) exercises, and low resistance isometric and eccentric exercises of hip abductors. Physical therapists prescribed ROM and isometric exercises for group A, all programs for group B, and no programs for the control group. The programs were modified every 2 weeks as necessary. Main Outcome Measure: Hip ROM, maximum isometric hip abduction torque measured by Cybex II, gait speed, and cadence were evaluated. Results: The practice ratio of the program was about 70% for both groups. Maximum isometric torque improved in the THA side of group A ( p < .01) and the control group ( p < .05), and on both sides in group B ( p < .01). Gait speed and cadence also improved significantly. No correlation coefficient existed between practice days and the improvement ratio of the maximum torque. Conclusion: The home program was effective in long-term post-THA.

The Relations between the Hip Abductor Torque and Maximum Walking Velocity

The Relations between the Hip Abductor Torque and Maximum Walking Velocity

Biomechanical Analysis of the Chiari Pelvic Osteotomy

Although the Chiari osteotomy is usually effective in reducing pain, many patients are left with a long-term limp. The postoperative limp can at times be caused by hip abductors that have strength insufficient to counteract the torque from body weight during single-leg stance. To study how the surgical technique affects the hip abductor muscles, a biomechanical model was developed that computes the postsurgery pelvic geometry and the resulting hip abductor torque given three surgical parameters: angulation of the osteotomy, distance of medical displacement, and angle of internal rotation. The computer simulations of the Chiari osteotomy showed that some sets of surgical parameters conserve abductor torque while others greatly reduce it. Simulated surgeries with high angulation and large medial displacement reduce gluteus medius abductor torque by up to 65%. Therefore, this combination of surgical parameters may account for some instances of the postoperative limp. In the model, high angulation reduces the length of the gluteus medius and is the primary cause of reduced abductor strength. Simulated horizontal osteotomies (0 degrees to 10 degrees) were found to best conserve both muscle length and abductor torque.

Electromyographic analysis of hip abductor musculature in healthy right-handed persons.

The right hip abductor (HA) musculature has been reported to demonstrate stretch weakness attributable to chronic elongation imposed by standing posture common to right-handed healthy individuals. Research has shown side-specific differences in maximal isometric torque-hip abduction angle curves for the HA muscles in a similar population. The purposes of this study were to assess isometric hip abduction torque in a sample of 40 healthy right-handed persons and to compare side differences in the HA muscles' neural drive index across a wide range of hip abduction angles. The neural drive index was defined as the magnitude of the normalized surface electromyographic activity divided by the absolute magnitude of a submaximal (20% of maximal) isometric HA muscle torque. Data were collected while subjects were positioned supine with trunk and pelvis stabilized. Statistical analysis of the data did not support earlier research on right HA muscle stretch-weakness; however, trends in the data suggest the need for further research. We also discuss the functional role of the passive noncontractile elements of the HA musculature.

The Effect of the CAT-CAM Above-Knee Prosthesis on Functional Rehabilitation

Five, rehabilitated, unilateral above-knee amputees (average age, 34.4 years) using quadrilateral sockets were converted to Contoured Adducted Trochanteric-Controlled Alignment Method (CAT-CAM) sockets to determine the effect on ambulatory function. Patients were evaluated before and after conversion for subjective acceptance, gait deviations, relative femoral shaft inclination, coronal-plane hip abduction torque, and ambulatory metabolic demands. The CAT-CAM socket was subjectively rated superior by four patients. Most gait deviations improved or disappeared. Femoral shaft inclination angles improved an average of 6.5 degrees toward adduction by roentgenographic measurements in four patients. Film records suggest that the compensatory lateral trunk lean, seen in patients with quadrilateral sockets, diminished after conversion. These four patients increased their customary gait velocities, and all showed a reduction in the quantity of oxygen consumed per meter traveled by up to 50%.

A model relating surface EMG and hip abductor torque during walking

A model relating surface EMG and hip abductor torque during walking

Comparison of maximal isometric hip abductor muscle torques between hip sides.

A posturally induced "stretch weakness" of the right hip abductor muscles has been reported in many healthy right-handed persons in the literature. The purpose of this study was to test for differences in the maximal isometric hip abduction torque produced between hip sides across multiple hip abduction angles. The torques were measured on 40 healthy right-handed individuals using a specialized torque-testing table at hip abduction angles of -10, 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 degrees. Statistical analysis of the results did not demonstrate a specific "weakness" of the right hip abductor muscles at the hip angle used to clinically test them. The results, however, did demonstrate statistically significant differences in the torque-hip angle slopes across hip sides. We hypothesized that these slope differences may result from muscle adaptation to lengths imposed by standing posture. We discuss how manual muscle testing procedures may bias the likelihood of encountering stretch weakness in muscles that are habitually maintained at near-maximal elongation.