Amir Ali Jafarnezhadgero1, Mahdi Majlesi2, Hojat Etemadi2, D G E Robertson3. 1. Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Educational Science and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Electronic address: amiralijafarnezhad@gmail.com. 2. Department of Sport Biomechanics, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, Hamedan, Iran. 3. School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated increased medial stresses in knee varus alignment. Selecting a suitable treatment strategy for individuals with knee malalignment should be a priority. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the effects of a 16-week corrective exercise continuum (CEC) program on 3-D joint angles of the dominant and non-dominant lower limbs in children with genu varus during walking. METHODS: Overall, 28 male children with genu varus (age range 9-14 years) volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomly divided into 2 equal groups (experimental and control). The participants of the experimental group received CEC for 16 weeks. 3-D gait analysis involved using a Vicon Motion System. Paired and independent sample t-tests were used for within- and between-group comparisons, respectively. RESULTS: For the experimental group, comparison of pre- and post-test joint kinematics of the dominant lower limb revealed that CEC decreased the peak ankle dorsiflexion angle by 26% (P=0.020), peak foot internal rotation angle by 53% (P=0.001), peak knee internal rotation angle by 40% (P=0.011), peak hip abduction by 47% (P=0.010), and peak hip external rotation angle by 60% (P=0.001). In contrast, peak knee external rotation angle of the dominant limb was increased after the training program by 46% (P=0.044). For the non-dominant lower limb, CEC decreased the peak ankle inversion by 63% (P<0.01), peak ankle eversion by 91% (P<0.01), peak foot internal rotation by 50% (P<0.01), peak knee internal rotation by 29%; P=0.042), peak hip abduction angle by 38% (P<0.01), and peak hip external rotation angle by 60% (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:CEC therapy reduced excessive foot and knee internal rotations as well as excessive hip external rotation during walking in children with genu varus.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated increased medial stresses in knee varus alignment. Selecting a suitable treatment strategy for individuals with knee malalignment should be a priority. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the effects of a 16-week corrective exercise continuum (CEC) program on 3-D joint angles of the dominant and non-dominant lower limbs in children with genu varus during walking. METHODS: Overall, 28 male children with genu varus (age range 9-14 years) volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomly divided into 2 equal groups (experimental and control). The participants of the experimental group received CEC for 16 weeks. 3-D gait analysis involved using a Vicon Motion System. Paired and independent sample t-tests were used for within- and between-group comparisons, respectively. RESULTS: For the experimental group, comparison of pre- and post-test joint kinematics of the dominant lower limb revealed that CEC decreased the peak ankle dorsiflexion angle by 26% (P=0.020), peak foot internal rotation angle by 53% (P=0.001), peak knee internal rotation angle by 40% (P=0.011), peak hip abduction by 47% (P=0.010), and peak hip external rotation angle by 60% (P=0.001). In contrast, peak knee external rotation angle of the dominant limb was increased after the training program by 46% (P=0.044). For the non-dominant lower limb, CEC decreased the peak ankle inversion by 63% (P<0.01), peak ankle eversion by 91% (P<0.01), peak foot internal rotation by 50% (P<0.01), peak knee internal rotation by 29%; P=0.042), peak hip abduction angle by 38% (P<0.01), and peak hip external rotation angle by 60% (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:CEC therapy reduced excessive foot and knee internal rotations as well as excessive hip external rotation during walking in children with genu varus.