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Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross-Sectional Study
Kohei Hikawa1, Reia Shimizu1, Saeko Takahashi1
1Department of Sports Medicine Japan Institute of Sports Sciences Tokyo Japan.
Objective:
To conduct a large-scale survey of Quadriceps angles (Q-angles) in elite athletes and clarify the characteristics and potential implications of high and asymmetric Q-angles for injury risk.
Design:
This cross-sectional study utilized Q-angle data obtained during medical check-ups of elite national team male and female athletes at our facility over a 20-year period.
Methods:
We analyzed the height and asymmetry of the Q-angle in 11,616 elite athletes, examining sex differences through logistic regression analysis.
Results:
Analysis of 23,094 knees revealed a significant prevalence of high Q-angles in female athletes (13.2%) compared to male athletes (4.2%) with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.47 (p < 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.13-3.84), and a higher rate of Q-angle asymmetry in females (27.9%) than in males (22.7%) with an OR of 1.26 (p < 0.05, 95% CI: 1.16-1.34).
Conclusion:
Our findings highlight a significant gender disparity in high and asymmetric Q-angles among elite athletes, underscoring the need for gender-specific approaches in injury prevention and further research into the biomechanical effects of Q-angle variances.
