Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Objective To conduct a large‐scale survey of Quadriceps angles (Q‐angles) in elite athletes and clarify the characteristics and potential implications of high and asymmetric Q‐angles for injury risk. Design This cross‐sectional study utilized Q‐angle data obtained during medical check‐ups o...

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Main Authors: Kohei Hikawa, Reia Shimizu, Saeko Takahashi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Health Science Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70909
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author Kohei Hikawa
Reia Shimizu
Saeko Takahashi
author_facet Kohei Hikawa
Reia Shimizu
Saeko Takahashi
author_sort Kohei Hikawa
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Objective To conduct a large‐scale survey of Quadriceps angles (Q‐angles) in elite athletes and clarify the characteristics and potential implications of high and asymmetric Q‐angles for injury risk. Design This cross‐sectional study utilized Q‐angle data obtained during medical check‐ups of elite national team male and female athletes at our facility over a 20‐year period. Methods We analyzed the height and asymmetry of the Q‐angle in 11,616 elite athletes, examining sex differences through logistic regression analysis. Results Analysis of 23,094 knees revealed a significant prevalence of high Q‐angles in female athletes (13.2%) compared to male athletes (4.2%) with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.47 (p < 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.13–3.84), and a higher rate of Q‐angle asymmetry in females (27.9%) than in males (22.7%) with an OR of 1.26 (p < 0.05, 95% CI: 1.16–1.34). Conclusion Our findings highlight a significant gender disparity in high and asymmetric Q‐angles among elite athletes, underscoring the need for gender‐specific approaches in injury prevention and further research into the biomechanical effects of Q‐angle variances.
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spelling doaj-art-be87294d381e442aafe669deea4c92d32025-08-20T03:24:07ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-06-0186n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70909Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross‐Sectional StudyKohei Hikawa0Reia Shimizu1Saeko Takahashi2Department of Sports Medicine Japan Institute of Sports Sciences Tokyo JapanDepartment of Sports Medicine Japan Institute of Sports Sciences Tokyo JapanDepartment of Sports Medicine Japan Institute of Sports Sciences Tokyo JapanABSTRACT Objective To conduct a large‐scale survey of Quadriceps angles (Q‐angles) in elite athletes and clarify the characteristics and potential implications of high and asymmetric Q‐angles for injury risk. Design This cross‐sectional study utilized Q‐angle data obtained during medical check‐ups of elite national team male and female athletes at our facility over a 20‐year period. Methods We analyzed the height and asymmetry of the Q‐angle in 11,616 elite athletes, examining sex differences through logistic regression analysis. Results Analysis of 23,094 knees revealed a significant prevalence of high Q‐angles in female athletes (13.2%) compared to male athletes (4.2%) with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.47 (p < 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.13–3.84), and a higher rate of Q‐angle asymmetry in females (27.9%) than in males (22.7%) with an OR of 1.26 (p < 0.05, 95% CI: 1.16–1.34). Conclusion Our findings highlight a significant gender disparity in high and asymmetric Q‐angles among elite athletes, underscoring the need for gender‐specific approaches in injury prevention and further research into the biomechanical effects of Q‐angle variances.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70909elite athleteinjury preventionkneequadriceps angle
spellingShingle Kohei Hikawa
Reia Shimizu
Saeko Takahashi
Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Health Science Reports
elite athlete
injury prevention
knee
quadriceps angle
title Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_full Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_fullStr Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_short Features of Elite Athletes' High and Asymmetric Quadriceps Angles: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_sort features of elite athletes high and asymmetric quadriceps angles a cross sectional study
topic elite athlete
injury prevention
knee
quadriceps angle
url https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70909
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AT reiashimizu featuresofeliteathleteshighandasymmetricquadricepsanglesacrosssectionalstudy
AT saekotakahashi featuresofeliteathleteshighandasymmetricquadricepsanglesacrosssectionalstudy