![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Background: AKP is a common condition with unknown etiology. There are many proposed biomechanical factors associated with AKP; however, it is unclear which factors are the most important and clinically relevant.
Objectives: To systematically review and summarise the literature on kinematic factors associated with AKP. The secondary objective was to create an evidence-based algorithm to be used by clinicians for screening purposes.
Method: A comprehensive search was conducted in November 2016 of all accessible electronic databases of published research available at Stellenbosch University library. The review was done according to Prisma guidelines. Two reviewers screened the full-text articles for inclusion based on our criteria.
Results: Nineteen studies were included in this review, with a total sample of 734 subjects, 415 of which had been diagnosed with AKP. Subjects with AKP had significantly reduced peak hip internal rotation during gait (MD = −5.54; CI −7.54, −3.5); and significantly increased peak trunk ipsilateral lean (MD = 2.76; CI: 0.96, 4.56), hip adduction (MD = 4.51; CI: 1.98, 7.04) and knee valgus (MD = 4.93; CI 2.06, 7.80) during single leg squatting compared to controls. No meta-analyses were possible for stair climbing outcomes due to study heterogeneity.
Conclusions: Clinicians should target the factors supported by the most evidence first in treatment. Gait and single leg squatting are currently the best activities to use for screening of abnormal biomechanics in subjects with AKP. Future research should focus on high-quality prospective studies to determine causality.
Acknowledgements
We would also like to express gratitude towards Stellenbosch University for the use of their facilities. The study would not have been possible without the input of these institutions.