Static Ankle Dorsiflexion and Hip and Pelvis Kinematics During Forward Step-Down in Patients With Hip-Related Groin Pain.
Stefanie N Foster, Michael D Harris, Mary K Hastings and 3 others
PMID 33291065WHAT IT FOUND
In 30 adults with hip-related groin pain, limited ankle dorsiflexion was linked to less ankle motion and more forward pelvic tilt and opposite-side pelvic drop during a step-down.
Hip adduction was not linked to limited ankle motion.
Key findings
01Less static ankle dorsiflexion was linked to less ankle dorsiflexion during the step-down for both knee-bent and knee-straight measures and for both the full group and the prescribed-step group.
02Less static ankle dorsiflexion with the knee bent was linked to more forward pelvic tilt and more opposite-side pelvic drop during the step-down in the full group.
03In the prescribed-step group, less static ankle dorsiflexion with either knee position was linked to more forward pelvic tilt, more opposite-side pelvic drop, and more hip flexion.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Thirty participants is a small sample, and the study was cross-sectional. It shows links at one time point, not cause and effect. The study did not test treatment. It cannot show whether improving ankle dorsiflexion changes hip or pelvis motion or symptoms. Ten of 30 participants could not use the prescribed step height. The task challenge was not the same for everyone. The associations were stronger in the 20 participants who used the prescribed step height. Participants were 15 to 40 years old with hip-related groin pain. The findings may not apply to older adults or other hip conditions. Two participants had body mass index over 30 kg/m2. Motion-capture markers can move with tissue, although the authors said these participants were not statistical outliers.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that treating ankle dorsiflexion will improve hip or pelvis motion or pain. This was a small cross-sectional correlation study, and it did not test treatment. The associations may reflect other factors.