Impact of Quadriceps Angle on Patellar Mobility in Young Healthy Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background: The quadriceps angle is crucial for efficient control of the frontal plane force transmission from the quadriceps muscle to the patella. The significance of quadriceps angles contributing to the extensor mechanism of the knee joint and patellofemoral joint function is abundantly reported in the literature. However, the impact of quadriceps angle on patellofemoral joint mobility is scarce. Hence, this study is designed to analyze the effect of quadriceps angle on patellofemoral joint mobility among young healthy adults with normal and increased quadriceps angle. Materials and Methods: A total of 152 healthy adults fulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled in this study. Based on their quadriceps angle range, they were stratified to either the increased quadriceps angle group ( n = 63) or the normal quadriceps angle group ( n = 89). Sociodemographic data, quadriceps angle, and patellar mobility were the data collected. Two assessors blinded from the other outcome individually evaluated the quadriceps angle and patella mobility in all the participants. Results: The mean age for participants with increased quadriceps angle was 21.30 ± 1.53 years and for participants with normal quadriceps angle was 20.63 ± 1.27 years, respectively. Among the participants with increased quadriceps angle, 56 (88.88%) of them had patellar hypermobility. The majority of the participants with increased quadriceps angle were females, i.e., 59 (77.63%). Participants with increased quadriceps angle had higher odds (adjusted odds ratio: 0.054, at 95% confidence interval: 0.014–0.201) for developing patellar hypermobility. Conclusion: The risk of developing lateral patellar hypermobility is higher in the female gender and in individuals with increased quadriceps angle.