Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball Players

# Background The single-leg step down task (SLSD) is a clinical tool to assess movement and control of the lower extremity and trunk. Hip abduction weakness may impact movement quality during the SLSD, however the relationships between movement and strength are unclear. # Purpose To determine the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. Christopher Zipser, Hillary A Plummer, Nathan Kindstrand, Johnathan C Sum, Bernard Li, Lori A Michener
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: North American Sports Medicine Institute 2021-04-01
Series:International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.21415
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1825197009229840384
author M. Christopher Zipser
Hillary A Plummer
Nathan Kindstrand
Johnathan C Sum
Bernard Li
Lori A Michener
author_facet M. Christopher Zipser
Hillary A Plummer
Nathan Kindstrand
Johnathan C Sum
Bernard Li
Lori A Michener
author_sort M. Christopher Zipser
collection DOAJ
description # Background The single-leg step down task (SLSD) is a clinical tool to assess movement and control of the lower extremity and trunk. Hip abduction weakness may impact movement quality during the SLSD, however the relationships between movement and strength are unclear. # Purpose To determine the relationship between hip abduction isometric strength and movement during the SLSD of trunk lean, pelvic drop, knee valgus, and hip flexion. # Study Design Cross sectional, cohort study # Methods One hundred-eighteen Minor League baseball players (age=21.6 ± 2.0 years; n=68 pitchers, n=50 position players) participated. Bilateral hip abduction isometric strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer (HHD), and then multiplied by distance from the greater trochanter to the HHD and expressed as hip abduction torque. Video cameras captured the SLSD, with participants standing on one leg while lowering their contralateral heel to touchdown on the floor from a 0.203m (8in.) step. Trunk lean, trunk flexion, pelvic drop, knee valgus, and hip flexion were measured using Dartfish at heel touchdown. A value of 180° indicated no knee valgus. Pearson correlations examined the relationships between hip abduction torque and SLSD motions. # Results There were no significant correlations for position players. For pitchers, on the lead leg increased hip abduction torque weakly correlated with a decrease in knee valgus (r= 0.24, p=0.049). Also for pitchers on the trail leg, increased hip abduction torque weakly correlated with decreased pelvic drop (r= -0.28, p=0.021). # Conclusion Hip abduction strength contributes to dynamic control of the trunk and legs. Specifically in pitchers, hip abduction weakness was related to increased movement of the lower extremity and lumbopelvic regions during the dynamic SLSD task. These deficits could translate to altered pitching performance and injury. # Levels of Evidence 2\.
format Article
id doaj-art-543660908bbe495ea42ad4cbb20c8e29
institution Kabale University
issn 2159-2896
language English
publishDate 2021-04-01
publisher North American Sports Medicine Institute
record_format Article
series International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
spelling doaj-art-543660908bbe495ea42ad4cbb20c8e292025-02-11T20:27:50ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962021-04-01162Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball PlayersM. Christopher ZipserHillary A PlummerNathan KindstrandJohnathan C SumBernard LiLori A Michener# Background The single-leg step down task (SLSD) is a clinical tool to assess movement and control of the lower extremity and trunk. Hip abduction weakness may impact movement quality during the SLSD, however the relationships between movement and strength are unclear. # Purpose To determine the relationship between hip abduction isometric strength and movement during the SLSD of trunk lean, pelvic drop, knee valgus, and hip flexion. # Study Design Cross sectional, cohort study # Methods One hundred-eighteen Minor League baseball players (age=21.6 ± 2.0 years; n=68 pitchers, n=50 position players) participated. Bilateral hip abduction isometric strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer (HHD), and then multiplied by distance from the greater trochanter to the HHD and expressed as hip abduction torque. Video cameras captured the SLSD, with participants standing on one leg while lowering their contralateral heel to touchdown on the floor from a 0.203m (8in.) step. Trunk lean, trunk flexion, pelvic drop, knee valgus, and hip flexion were measured using Dartfish at heel touchdown. A value of 180° indicated no knee valgus. Pearson correlations examined the relationships between hip abduction torque and SLSD motions. # Results There were no significant correlations for position players. For pitchers, on the lead leg increased hip abduction torque weakly correlated with a decrease in knee valgus (r= 0.24, p=0.049). Also for pitchers on the trail leg, increased hip abduction torque weakly correlated with decreased pelvic drop (r= -0.28, p=0.021). # Conclusion Hip abduction strength contributes to dynamic control of the trunk and legs. Specifically in pitchers, hip abduction weakness was related to increased movement of the lower extremity and lumbopelvic regions during the dynamic SLSD task. These deficits could translate to altered pitching performance and injury. # Levels of Evidence 2\.https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.21415
spellingShingle M. Christopher Zipser
Hillary A Plummer
Nathan Kindstrand
Johnathan C Sum
Bernard Li
Lori A Michener
Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball Players
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
title Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball Players
title_full Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball Players
title_fullStr Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball Players
title_full_unstemmed Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball Players
title_short Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball Players
title_sort hip abduction strength relationship to trunk and lower extremity motion during a single leg step down task in professional baseball players
url https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.21415
work_keys_str_mv AT mchristopherzipser hipabductionstrengthrelationshiptotrunkandlowerextremitymotionduringasinglelegstepdowntaskinprofessionalbaseballplayers
AT hillaryaplummer hipabductionstrengthrelationshiptotrunkandlowerextremitymotionduringasinglelegstepdowntaskinprofessionalbaseballplayers
AT nathankindstrand hipabductionstrengthrelationshiptotrunkandlowerextremitymotionduringasinglelegstepdowntaskinprofessionalbaseballplayers
AT johnathancsum hipabductionstrengthrelationshiptotrunkandlowerextremitymotionduringasinglelegstepdowntaskinprofessionalbaseballplayers
AT bernardli hipabductionstrengthrelationshiptotrunkandlowerextremitymotionduringasinglelegstepdowntaskinprofessionalbaseballplayers
AT loriamichener hipabductionstrengthrelationshiptotrunkandlowerextremitymotionduringasinglelegstepdowntaskinprofessionalbaseballplayers