Single-leg horizontal jump is more suitable for assessing lower limb function compared to single-leg vertical jump in patellofemoral pain patients

Hang Pan; Shengxing Fu; Yulin Zhou; Ting Long; Hanjun Li; Huijuan Shi

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.11.008

Single-leg horizontal jump is more suitable for assessing lower limb function compared to single-leg vertical jump in patellofemoral pain patients

Gait Posture. 2024 Nov 16:115:94-101. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.11.008. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hang Pan¹, Shengxing Fu¹, Yulin Zhou¹, Ting Long², Hanjun Li³, Huijuan Shi⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Key Laboratory for Performance Training & Recovery of General Administration of Sport, Beijing, China.
² Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
³ School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Key Laboratory for Performance Training & Recovery of General Administration of Sport, Beijing, China. Electronic address: lihanjun@bsu.edu.cn.
⁴ School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Key Laboratory for Performance Training & Recovery of General Administration of Sport, Beijing, China. Electronic address: shihuijuan1103@163.com.

PMID: 39566362
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.11.008

Abstract

Background: The single-leg vertical jump (SLVJ) and single-leg horizontal jump (SLHJ) are commonly used assessments for individuals with lower limb injuries. Despite previous studies comparing these tasks across various individuals, their comparative effectiveness in evaluating lower limb function in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) and any potential sex differences in these functional tests remain uncertain.

Research question: The purpose of this study was to determine which jump task is more suitable for functional assessment in PFP patients by comparing the differences in jump performance and biomechanical variables between PFP patients and healthy individuals during the SLVJ and SLHJ. Furthermore, the study aimed to determine whether the more suitable functional assessment for male and female PFP patients is consistent.

Methods: A total of 24 PFP patients (15 males, 9 females) and 17 healthy individuals (9 males, 8 females) were recruited. Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were collected during the propulsion and landing phases of the SLVJ and SLHJ. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare each dependent variable between groups (PFP vs. healthy controls) and sex (male vs. female).

Results: Both male and female PFP groups presented a reduced jump distance than the control group in the SLHJ (p = 0.002), but no significant difference was detected in the SLVJ. Both male and female PFP groups displayed increased hip work (p = 0.005) and contribution (p = 0.009) and reduced knee work contribution (p = 0.034) during the propulsion phase of the SLHJ compared to the control group. Moreover, female participants of PFP and control groups performed shorter jump distances (p ≤ 0.001) and had less knee work (p < 0.001) during the propulsion phase of vertical and horizontal jumps than males.

Conclusion: Single-leg horizontal jump is more suitable for assessing lower limb function in PFP patients, characterized by reduced knee work contribution impacting jump performance, and this applies to both male and female PFP patients.

Keywords: Evaluate lower limb function; Patellofemoral pain; Single-leg horizontal jump; Single-leg vertical jump.