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Is there a difference in hip joint position sense between young and older groups?
Christine M Pickard1, Patricia E Sullivan, Garry T Allison
1School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia. c.pickard@curtin.edu.au
Summary
Age does not affect hip joint position sense (JPS). Both young and older adults show greater accuracy in the inner hip range, with active repositioning being more precise than passive.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Gerontology
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- Joint position sense (JPS) declines with age in the knee, potentially leading to degeneration.
- Limited research exists on age-related changes in hip JPS and normal reference ranges.
- Understanding hip JPS is crucial for assessing joint health and mechanics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine normal reference ranges for hip JPS.
- To investigate the effect of age on hip JPS.
- To compare active and passive repositioning accuracy in different hip ranges of motion.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-nine healthy adults (30 young, 29 older) participated.
- Active and passive hip repositioning tasks were performed in inner and outer ranges of abduction.
- An electromagnetic tracking system measured angular displacement errors.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in hip JPS was found between young and older subjects.
- Both age groups demonstrated greater accuracy in the inner hip range.
- Active repositioning was significantly more accurate than passive repositioning.
Conclusions:
- Age does not appear to impact hip JPS in community-dwelling adults.
- Hip JPS accuracy is enhanced in the inner range of motion.
- Active repositioning provides more precise joint position awareness than passive repositioning.