Association between Q angle and gait speed in college going students - a cross-sectional study

Background and purpose:- The Q angle, defined as the angle formed by the intersection of a line between the ASIS and CP with a line extending from the TT to CP, is commonly used to assess patellar tracking and knee biomechanics. Gait speed is a commonly used measure of functional mobility and is important functional parameter that has been shown to reflect overall health status. However, the association between Q angle and gait speed in college-going students remains unclear.
Method: - A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 college going students (105 females and 95 males) aged 18-28 years. The participants were selected on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Q angle was measured using a universal 360° goniometer and gait speed was assessed using a 4MGS test. Data was analyzed using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient.
Result:- The mean Q angle for right leg was 13.84° and for the left leg was 13.89° for all the participants while the mean gait speed for all participants was 1.37m/s. The Q angles of both legs and gait speed have a negative correlation using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient.
Conclusion: - In our study we can conclude that Q angle of both males and females can affect walking speed.
Keywords: Knee joint; 4 meter gait speed; gait speed; young adults.