The Female Adolescent Knee

Many lower extremity anomalies are linked to an increased incidence of knee pain. A relationship between increased sports participation and knee pain has also been hypothesized. This study examined the relationship between lower extremity anomalies and the level of sports participation to knee pain. Fifty middle and high school female students completed a questionnaire to determine level of sports participation and the presence of knee pain/pathology. Measurements were made of Q angle, iliotibial band flexibility, knee hyperextension, hamstring flexibility, patella alta and calcaneal position. All variables were quantified and correlation coefficients were calculated. Stepwise multiple regression was used to evaluate relationships among the variables. No significant relationships were found between knee pain/pathology and the level of sports participation. No significant relationships were found between knee pain/pathology and the lower extremity measurements. The anatomical measurements most strongly related to knee pain/pathology were hamstring flexibility of the right leg (r=.27) and the right Q angle (r=.24). The multiple regression analysis revealed 14.7% shared variance between scores on the pain scale and right hamstring flexibility, right i1iotibia1 band flexibility, and left iliotibial band flexibility. The study also indicated the need to standardize measurement techniques and provided additional means and ranges for the lower extremity measurements made. The values found were within the established normal ranges reported in the literature