Investigation of Q Angle and Related Factors in Osteoporosis Patients

TL;DR

This study found that osteoporosis patients have a higher Q angle compared to those with osteopenia and osteoarthritis, and foot posture is linked to the Q angle.

Contribution

The study is the first to compare Q angles across osteoporosis, osteopenia, and osteoarthritis, revealing significant differences and correlations with foot posture.

Findings

Osteoporosis patients had a significantly higher Q angle compared to osteoarthritis patients.

Foot posture and pes planus were significantly correlated with the Q angle in all patients.

Osteoporosis patients showed a tendency toward valgum alignment.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the Q angle in patients diagnosed with osteoporosis, osteopenia, and osteoarthritis and to compare the groups with each other.

This study included 22 female patients diagnosed with osteoporosis, 22 female patients diagnosed with osteopenia, and 22 female patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis, aged 40-65 years. Q angle, pain, lower extremity muscle strength, foot posture, and pes planus were assessed using a goniometer, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale, Foot Posture Index (FPI), and Navicular Drop Test (NDT), respectively.

There was a statistical difference in both right and left Q angle in osteoporosis compared to osteoarthritis (P = .009, P = .002, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in both right and left Q angle between osteoporosis and osteopenia (P = .730, P = .491, respectively), and osteopenia and osteoarthritis (P = .022, P = .017, respectively). However, a statistically significant difference was found between osteoporosis and osteoarthritis in the right (P = .009) and left (P = .002) sides. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between Q angle and FPI and NDT in all patients in this study (P < .01).

Patients with osteoporosis were found to have a higher Q angle than osteoarthritis and osteopenia patients. In addition, foot posture and pes planus were found to be associated with the Q angle. Osteoporosis patients may have a tendency to valgum.

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