Lower Extremity Injuries: Is It Just About Hip Strength?

Bryan C. Heiderscheit

DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2010.0102

Patellofemoral pain and iliotibial band syndromes continue to puzzle and oftentimes frustrate both patients and clinicians alike. While a myriad of treatments, including footwear, orthoses, bracing, patellar taping, and quadriceps strengthening, have been traditionally promoted and sometimes shown to be moderately effective, improvements in symptoms and function are not universal. In recent years, a trend toward consideration of more proximal influences on knee injuries (ie, lumbopelvic and hip regions) has continued to grow as insights are gained into this potential mechanism. However, the specific cause-effect relationship is not as clear as we might anticipate. This special issue of the Journal provides a compilation of papers focused on further defining the contribution of proximal factors to knee/lower extremity injury. Collectively, we hope these papers will provide direction to both patient care and patient-related research.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010;40(2):39-41. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.0102

KEY WORDS: hip, iliotibial band syndrome, knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome

This special issue of the Journal provides a compilation of papers focused on further defining the contribution of proximal factors to knee/lower extremity injury.

View Full Article