As influências da flexão do tronco sobre o desempenho funcional e a cinemática angular dos membros inferiores durante o Single Leg Hop Test em mulheres com dor femoropatelar

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Abnormal trunk movements in the sagittal plane during weight-bearing activities can have a direct effect on the joints of the lower limbs. It is known that a greater range of trunk flexion leads to less patellofemoral stress. Assessments of the kinematics of patients who suffer from patellofemoral pain (PFP) during several activities can be found in the literature. However, none of these studies have addressed the effects of trunk flexion during the single leg hop test (SLHT). OBJECTIVE: Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the relation of trunk flexion on pain (NPRS 0-10), functional performance (SLHT distance) and the angular kinematics of the lower limbs of women with PFP during the propulsion phase of the SLHT. METHODS: Thirty-four sedentary women, with a mean age of 25.59 (18 - 35 years), were assessed retrospectively in terms of pain, functional performance and three-dimensional kinematics during the propulsion phase of the SLHT. The women were then divided into two groups based on the maximum angular value of the trunk: less trunk flexion (LFT group, n=17) and greater trunk flexion (GFT group, n=17). RESULTS: Differences were found between the groups for pain (P=0.04; Effect Size (ES) =0.70 ; mean difference = 0.88; Confidence Interval (CI) = 95%: 0.01 – 1,75), LFT group presented less pain than GFT group. Therefore women in the GFT group exhibited better functional performance funcional (P=0.01; ES=1.17 mean difference: 16.29cm; 95% CI: 25.95 - 6.62) than those in the LFT group. The GFT group also performed higher values of ipsilateral trunk lean (mean difference: 2.5°; 95% CI: 0.9 a 4.1°), pelvic anteversion (mean difference: 5.8°; 95% CI: 1.7 a 9.8°), hip flexion (mean difference: 8.2°; 95% CI: 2.1 a 14.4°) and ankle dorsiflexion (mean difference: 3.7°; 95% CI: 0.3 a 7.1°) than the LFT group. CONCLUSION: Increases in the sagittal plane trunk flexion shows relation to the functional performance and angular kinematics of proximal segments during the propulsion phase of the SLHT.