Características musculoesqueléticas do quadril em corredores de rua: relação com o alinhamento do pé e com a magnitude do movimento pélvico no plano frontal durante a corrida

Abstract

Running is a physical activity with a growing number of participants. The clinical reasoning in physical therapy for these runners considers the relationship between musculoskeletal characteristics of the hip and distal joints, such as the ankle–foot complex. In addition, this reasoning considers the influence of hip characteristics on pelvic kinematics. This dissertation is organized into two studies. The first study aimed to investigate the relationship between forefoot–shank alignment and hip musculoskeletal characteristics. The second study aimed to examine the relationship between the magnitude of frontal-plane pelvic motion and peak hip abductor torque in recreational runners. Both studies employed a cross-sectional observational design. Inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, at least 12 months of running experience, and at least one training session per week. Exclusion criteria were a history of lower-limb surgeries, musculoskeletal injuries in the month prior to data collection, musculoskeletal complaints on the day of testing, and any restrictions preventing data collection. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were identical for both studies. In the first study, clinical measurements of forefoot–shank alignment and passive hip stiffness were recorded; maximal isometric torque of the hip abductors and lateral rotators was assessed using a handheld dynamometer; and hip extensor performance was evaluated using the single-leg hamstring bridge (SLHB) test. In the second study, the same measure of maximal isometric hip abductor torque was used. Additionally, a two-dimensional kinematic analysis of pelvic drop during running at self-selected speed and at 3.3 m/s was conducted. Runners were characterized based on anthropometric data, physical activity level assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and running training characteristics. Results from the first study indicated that forefoot–shank alignment correlated with hip abductor (r = -0.293, p = 0.039) and lateral rotator performance (r = -0.318, p = 0.024), but was not correlated with passive hip stiffness (p = 0.569) or SLHB performance (p = 0.368). The second study showed no correlation between maximal isometric hip abductor torque and pelvic drop on either the dominant or nondominant side at both running speeds investigated (p > 0.05). In conclusion, greater forefoot–shank varus is associated with poorer performance of maximal isometric hip abductor and lateral rotator torque, reinforcing the relationship between proximal and distal characteristics of the lower limb. Finally, maximal isometric hip abductor torque is not related to peak frontal-plane pelvic drop. Other factors may contribute to this movement, and poorer abductor performance may be related to motion of other body segments.