Presenter: Varneet Brar
Mentors: Li-Shan Chou and JJ Hannigan, Human Physiology
Poster: 6
Major: Human Physiology
Asymmetry between limbs can be assessed statically, as measured by passive flexibility and range of motion (ROM), and dynamically, as measured by joint angle ROM during gait. Both types of asymmetry have been suggested as possible factors in developing a lower limb injury. The purpose of this study was to identify if there is a correlation between static and dynamic asymmetry. Sixty healthy subjects running at least 20 miles per week participated in the study. Dynamic joint angle ROM for the hip and knee was collected as subjects ran continuous laps in the UO Motion Analysis Laboratory using a 10 camera motion capture system. Static flexibility and ROM were measured by a trained clinician using a goniometer. Static and dynamic asymmetry between limbs was then calculated using an established method: the symmetry index (SI). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to test the strength of the relationships between static and dynamic SI. A moderate, significant correlation was found between static hip internal rotation ROM and dynamic hip internal rotation ROM (r = 0.296, p = 0.035). No additional significant correlations were found. As internal hip rotation has been linked to lower limb injury, future studies should investigate whether clinical correction for static asymmetry, especially for hip internal rotation, alters asymmetry during running gait. Correcting these asymmetries may help prevent injury setbacks for both recreational and competitive runners.