453 MEP180 – Characteristics of the Q-angle in elite athletes

AbstractBackground Large Q-angles are risk factors for knee injuries including patellofemoral pain syndrome and anterior cruciate ligament injury. However, there is limited research on the characteristics of the Q-angle in elite athletes.Objective This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of the Q-angle in elite athletes to help prevent knee injuries.Design Retrospective study.Setting The Japan Institute of Sport Science conducts regular medical check-ups mainly for elite athletes in Olympic disciplines. Q-angle data obtained during the medical check-ups were analyzed.Patients (or Participants) Thirty-one-thousand-and-forty-three measurements obtained during medical check-ups between 2001 and 2019 were collected. Participants comprised 17,420 male (average age, 23.6±5.0 years) and 13,623 female (average age, 22.5±4.9 years) athletes in 47 and 46 sports disciplines, respectively.Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) The Q-angle was measured in the supine position with the quadriceps muscles relaxed. The average value of the left and right angles was used as the representative value.Main Outcome Measurements The correlation between the Q-angle and age, sex, and sport discipline was analyzed.Results A positive correlation was found between the Q-angle and age (males: r=0.03, p<0.05; females: r=0.10, p<0.05). The Q-angle was significantly different between males (12.3±3.2°) and females (14.8±3.7°) (η2=0.12, 95% CI= -2.63 to -2.44, p<0.05). Larger average Q-angles were present in equestrian (13.5±3.3°) and track and field (13.4±3.4°) sports in males and sailing (15.9±3.7°) and skiing (15.7±3.5°) sports in females.Conclusions Females and sports discipline such as athletics and skiing scored high Q-angle values in this study were previously reported that knee injuries are more common. Therefore, for athletes who has these attributes, not only movement characteristics but also Q-angle alignment characteristics may contribute to knee injury.