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* STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. * BACKGROUND: Altered hip and knee kinematics have been associated with several knee disorders, including anterior cruciate ligament tear, patellofemoral pain, and iliotibial band syndrome. Limited ankle dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM), which has been linked with some of these disorders, has also been associated with altered knee kinematics. * OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of ankle DF ROM with hip and knee kinematics during a step-down task. * METHODS: Thirty healthy participants underwent a 3-D analysis of hip and knee kinematics during a lateral step-down test, followed by measurement of ankle DF ROM in weight bearing (WB) and non-weight bearing (NWB). Participants were dichotomized using the median values into low- and high-DF subgroups within both WB and NWB. Hip and knee kinematics were compared between the low- and high-DF subgroups. * RESULTS: Participants in the low-DF subgroups exhibited greater peak hip adduction (WB, P = .02; NWB, P<.01) and greater peak knee external rotation (WB, P = .02; NWB, P<.01) compared with participants in the high-DF subgroups. In addition, participants in the low-DF WB subgroup exhibited decreased peak knee flexion compared with participants in the high-DF WB subgroup (P<.01). * CONCLUSION: Individuals with lower ankle DF ROM exhibited hip and knee kinematics previously associated with several knee disorders, suggesting that this impairment may be involved in the pathogenesis of the same disorders. Assessment of ankle DF ROM may be useful as part of a preparticipation screening. Furthermore, deficits in ankle DF ROM may need to be addressed in individuals with altered movement patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. OBJECTIVE: To determine what physical measures are associated with visually assessed quality of movement among patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP). BACKGROUND: An altered movement pattern has been implicated as a risk factor for PFP. An understanding of physical measures associated with an altered movement pattern could potentially help guide prevention and management efforts in patients with PFP. METHODS: Seventy-nine (40 women) Israel Defense Forces soldiers referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of PFP were included. Movement pattern was assessed visually during a lateral step-down test and rated as "good” or “moderate,” based on previously established criteria. Weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM); hip internal and external rotation ROM; and hip abduction, hip external rotation, and knee extension strength were also assessed. Differences in physical measures between those with good versus moderate quality of movement were assessed. RESULTS: Weight-bearing DF ROM was more limited among participants with a moderate quality of movement compared to those with a good quality of movement (P<.01). Among men, non-weight-bearing DF ROM was more limited in those with a moderate quality of movement as well (P<.01). In addition, quality of movement was associated with weight-bearing DF ROM for both women (r = -0.39, P = .01) and men (r = -0.46, P<.01), and with non-weight-bearing DF ROM for men (r = -0.66, P<.01). When the subgroup of participants who exhibited more than 25° of non-weight- bearing DF ROM was assessed, those with a good quality of movement displayed greater hip external rotator and knee extensor muscle strength compared with those with a moderate quality of movement (P<.01). CONCLUSION: Ankle DF ROM should be assessed when patients with PFP demonstrate a lower quality of movement during a lateral step-down test. Lower hip muscle strength may be associated with lower quality of movement among patients with relatively greater ankle DF ROM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a cross-sectional study that determined the association between hip and ankle range-of-motion measures and quality of lower extremity movement measures among healthy women during the lateral step-down test. The study methodology is given. The study showed reduced ankle dorsiflexion range of motion among women with a moderate quality of movement. It is concluded that women who showed moderate quality of movement exhibit decreased ankle dorsiflexion range of motion.