A Biomechanical Investigation of Selected Lumbopelvic Hip Tests: Implications for the Examination of Walking

Abstract

Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to compare lumbopelvic hip ranges of motion during the Trendelenburg, Single Leg Squat, and Corkscrew Tests to walking and to describe the 3-dimensional lumbopelvic hip motion during the tests. This may help clinicians to select appropriate tests when examining gait.

Methods:
An optoelectronic movement analysis tracking system was used to assess the lumbopelvic hip region of 14 healthy participants while performing Trendelenburg, Single Leg Squat, and Corkscrew Tests and walking. The lumbopelvic hip 3-dimensional ranges of movement for the clinical tests were compared with walking using a repeated-measures analysis of variance with pairwise comparisons.

Results
No significant differences were found between the pelvic obliquity during the Trendelenburg Test and walking (Trendelenburg Test: L, 11.3° ± 4.8°, R, 10.8° ± 5.0° vs walk: L, 8.3° ± 4.8°, R 8.3° ± 5.1°, L, P = .143, R, P = .068). Significant differences were found between the hip sagittal plane range of movement during the Single Leg Squat and walking (Single Leg Squat: L, 44.2° ± 13.7°, R, 41.7° ± 10.9° vs walk: 38.6° ± 7.0°, R 37.8° ± 5.1°, P < .05), the hip coronal plane range of movement (Single Leg Squat: L, 9.1° ± 5.8°, R, 9.0° ± 4.6° vs walk: L, 9.4° ± 2.3°, R 9.5° ± 2.0°, P < .05), and the hip coronal plane range of movement during the Corkscrew Test and walking (Corkscrew: L, 5.7° ± 3.3°, R, 5.7° ± 3.2° vs walk: L, 9.4° ± 2.3°, R 9.5° ± 2.0°, P < .05).

Conclusions:
The results of the present study showed that, in young asymptomatic participants with no known lumbopelvic hip pathology, the pelvic obliquity during the Trendelenburg Test and walking is similar. During the Single Leg Squat, the hip moved more in the sagittal plane and less in the coronal plane when compared with walking. There was more movement in the hip transverse plane movement during the Corkscrew Test than during walking. These results suggest that for the Trendelenburg Test to be interpreted as normal, the pelvis should achieve at least 10° of pelvic obliquity; during the Single Leg Squat, the hip should move through 43° in the sagittal plane and under 10° in the coronal plane; and for the Corkscrew Test to be interpreted as normal, the hip should move through 6° of rotation and the trunk through 27° of rotation.