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Int J Sports Med 1987; 08(3): 214-220
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1025658
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Lower Limb Asymmetry and Patellofemoral Joint Incongruence in the Etiology of Knee Exertion Injuries in Athletes

U. M. Kujala1 , 2 , O. Friberg3 , T. Aalto2 , M. Kvist1 , K. Österman4
  • 1Sports Medical Research Unit, Turku, Finland
  • 2The Rehabilitation Research Centre of the Social Insurance Institution, Turku, Finland
  • 3Research Institute of Military Medicine, Central Military Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
  • 4Orthopaedic Hospital of the Invalid Foundation, Helsinki, Finland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

The association between different knee exertion injuries and lower limb malalignments was studied in 121 male athletes with knee exertion injuries and in 20 male athletes without knee symptoms. The associations between different malalignments was also analyzed. Leg length inequality (LLI), knee valgus, and different indexes of patellofemoral joint congruence were measured using radiological methods. Male athletes with patellar apicitis (n = 59) had significantly more LLI (P < 0.001) and patella alta (P < 0.05) than athletes without knee symptoms. The knee valgus was of the same numerical value in the shorter and longer leg sides in subjects with LLI of at least 5 mm (n = 58). A positive correlation was found between lateral patellar displacement (LPD) and patella alta (LT/LP) (P < 0.001). Negative correlations were found between the sulcus angle (SA) and the lateral patellofemoral angle (LPA) (P < 0.001) as well as between the LPD and the LPA (P < 0.001).

Key words

knee - patella - athletic injuries - leg length in-equality

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