The Immediate Effects of Passive Hip Joint Mobilization on Hip Muscle Strength in Patients With Anterior Knee Pain

What Are the Immediate Effects of Passive Hip Joint Mobilization on Hip Abductor/External Rotator Muscle Strength in Patients With Anterior Knee Pain and Impaired Hip Function

The aim of the study is to assess the immediate effects of passive hip joint mobilisation (in comparison to a sham mobilisation) on eccentric hip abductor/external rotator muscle strength on the basis of manual muscle testing with a hand-held-dynamometer within a double-blinded cross-over study design. Patients with anterior knee pain and signs of impaired hip function will be recruited in Vienna and surrounding area, measurements/data collection will be conducted by two experienced physiotherapists in a physiotherapy group practice in 1150 Vienna.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis: anterior knee pain
• Prescription for physiotherapeutic treatment of anterior knee pain
• signs of functional hip impairment:
• impaired hip kinematics during single leg squat
• reduced passive hip joint mobility in comparison to the other, unaffected side
• manually weak tested hip abductors/external rota-tors in comparison to the other, unaffected side

Exclusion Criteria:

• intraarticular knee pathology
• preceding trauma/operation of lower extremity on affected side
• spinal disorders associated with low back pain, lumbar referred pain or nerve root irritation
• severe and/or recurring ankle sprains in recent history (significant enough, that it required a period of immobilization)
• other relevant comorbidities such as neurologic/rheumatologic/psychiatric diseases, osteoporosis and malign disorders
• pregnancy