Hip Extensor Weakness and Hip Displacement Angle During Gait in Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Subjects: A Correlativestudy

Background and Purpose of the Study: The anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) subject’s exhibit altered hip moment pattern during early stance suggesting that the hip doesn’t re- establish normal joint moment characteristics at 3 months post-surgery. Weak hip extensors and quadriceps of the injured leg could lead to reduced hip extension and therefore a reduced hip displacement angle (HDA), and step length.  Method: An observational correlative study was conducted at HOSMAT Hospital physiotherapy OPD with a Sample size of 30. Outcome measures used were Hip extension (HE), Hip extensor strength (HES) and Hip Displacement Angle (HDA).  Results: 30 subjects with a Mean (SD) age of 28.27 (±5.85) yrs. 1 female and 29 males were included. There was statistical significant difference in all 3 outcome measures (HE, HES and HDA) in affected side compared to un-affected side, using paired “t” test. Correlations among the normalized outcome measures were done using pearson’s correlation co-efficient. re =0.450 (p=0.013) for HE and HES, rs = 0.346 (p=0.061) for HES and HDA, ra = 0.328 (p=0.077) for HDA and HE. This study showed a weak correlation among the outcome measures.  Conclusion: In this study significant difference was appreciated in all the 3 outcome measures between affected and unaffected side. HE and HES was decreased in affected side compare to unaffected side after 3 weeks of ACLR and increase in HDA in the affected side. Statistical correlation among the outcome measures showed very weak correlation among them.