The Effect of Navicular Drop on The Clinical Measures of Lower Extremity Alignment

주상골 하강이 하지 배열의 임상적 평가에 미치는 영향

Purpose : This study aimed to examine the relationships among five clinical measures for functional alignment of the lower extremity. Methods : Thirty healthy subjects (15 males and 15 females) were recruited for the study. The five clinical measures of functional alignment of the lower extremity included navicular drop, quadriceps angle, internal rotation of hip, and anterior and lateral pelvic tilt angles. The level of navicular drop was calculated by the difference between the height of the navicular bone in the sitting (non-weight bearing) and standing (weight bearing) positions. The quadriceps angle and internal rotation of hip were measured using a standard goniometer with photographic markers while the subjects were lying in a prone position on a table with their knee at $90^{\circ}$ flexion. Anterior and lateral pelvic tilt angles were determined using a inclinometer. Results : Correlation and a simple linear regression analysis were used to assess relationships between the clinical measures. There were significant correlations between navicular drop and quadriceps angle (p<.05), between navicular drop and internal rotation of hip (p<.05), and between quadriceps angle and internal rotation of hip (p<.01). In simple linear regression analysis, the navicular drop appeared to be a factor affecting the quadriceps angle and internal rotation of hip (p<.05). The findings suggest that navicular drop has a great impact on lower extremity alignment. Conclusion : This study might help us to examine lower extremity function and clarify its role as a potential injury risk factor.