An investigation into quadriceps imbalance and lower extremity malalignment in ballet dancers with patellofemoral pain syndrome
Item
- Title
- An investigation into quadriceps imbalance and lower extremity malalignment in ballet dancers with patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Author(s)
- Park Ellen
- Abstract
- This investigation was carried out in order to establish if levels of activity, Quadriceps muscle activity (Mean Quadriceps Peak Power (MQPP) and Vastus Medialis to Vastus Lateralis ratios (VM/VL)), and Q angles were significantly different in ballet dancers with and without Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). After completing a screening questionnaire, which also assessed subjects Patellofemoral Joint Evaluation Scores and Visual Analogue Scores, 21 subjects were tested, 9 of which had PFPS either bilaterally or unilaterally. Subjects had the necessary lower extremity screening including orthopaedic testing. Subjects performed isometric contractions on a Digital Myograph to allow EMG analysis of the VM/VL ratio and MQPP. Statistical analysis of the raw data using the t-test and ANOVA revealed that activity levels, VM/VL ratios and Q angles are not significant at the 0.05 level of significance between those with and without Patellofemoral Pain (PFP). MQPP and Patellofemoral Joint evaluation scores revealed a significant difference at the 0.05 level of significance, and a highly significant difference at the 0.01 level of significance, respectively. PFP subjects have a weaker quadriceps muscle on the symptomatic side compared to those without PFP, as well as a significant reduction in function of the patellofemoral joint compared to those without PFP. Overall there was no clear association between those with and without PFP and activity levels, Q-angle, and VM/VL ratio. There was an association between PFP and MQPP and Patellofemoral Evaluation Scores. It was concluded that a larger number of subjects was required to determine any association between the variables tested. As PFPS is recognised as being multifactorial in its aetiology, there are numerous other variables not covered in this research, that may offer another explanation of PFP in ballet dancers.
- presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 2002
- Date Submitted
- 1.11.2003 00:00:00
- Type
- undergraduate_project
- Language
- English
- Number of pages
- 96
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 13018
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Keywords
- Dancing injuries,Dancers,Quadriceps,Muscles,Patellofemoral joint
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Park Ellen, “An investigation into quadriceps imbalance and lower extremity malalignment in ballet dancers with patellofemoral pain syndrome”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 22, 2025, https://library.wso.at/s/orw/item/1320