Q Angle


Background[edit | edit source]

Q Angle

The direction and magnitude of force produced by the quadriceps muscle has great influence on patellofemoral joint biomechanics. The line of force exerted by the quadriceps is lateral to the joint line mainly due to the large cross-sectional area and force potential of the vastus lateralis. Since there exists an association between patellofemoral pathology and excessive lateral tracking of the patella, assessing the overall lateral line of pull of the quadriceps relative to the patella is a meaningful clinical measure. Such a measure is referred to as the Quadriceps angle or Q angle.

Definition[edit | edit source]

The Q angle is formed between a line representing the resultant line of force of the quadriceps, (connecting a point near the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the mid-point of the patella) and a line from the center of the patella to the center of the tibial tubercle.

Normative Values[edit | edit source]

In women, the Q angle should be less than 22 degrees with the knee in extension and less than 9 degrees with the knee in 90 degrees of flexion. In men, the Q angle should be less than 18 degrees with the knee in extension and less than 8 degrees with the knee in 90 degrees of flexion. A typical Q angle is 12 degrees for men and 17 degrees for women.[1]

A recent study established normative values of the Q angle as; for all subjects mean 14.8° (≈15°), 95% confidence interval (CI): ±5.4°. The male mean is 13.5°, 95% CI: ±5.2°. The female mean is 15.9°, 95% CI: ±4.8°. [2]

Measurement[edit | edit source]

The Q angle can be measured in supine or standing position. Standing is usually more suitable, due to the normal weight-bearing forces being applied to the knee joint as occurs during daily activity.[3]

  • Traditionally, the Q angle has been measured with the knee at or near full extension (but not hyperextension) with subjects in supine and the quadriceps relaxed, as lateral forces on the patella may be more of a problem in these circumstances.
  • With the knee flexed, the patella is set within the intercondylar notch, and even a very large lateral force on the patella is unlikely to result in dislocation. Furthermore, the Q angle will reduce with knee flexion as the tibia rotates medially in relation to the femur.[3]
  • This is regarded as the 'traditional' or 'conventional' method. The Q angle has also been assessed in standing.

Application[edit | edit source]

Measuring Q angle

Position: Patient supine with knee extended. The therapist stands next to patient.

Application: When measuring ensure that the lower extremity is at a right angle to the line joining each ASIS. The foot should be placed in a neutral position relative to supination and pronation with the hip in neutral position relative to medial and lateral rotation. Draw a line from ASIS to the midpoint of patella and then from the midpoint of the patella to the tibial tubercle. The resultant angle formed by the crossing of these two lines is called the Q angle.

Positive sign: Normal Q angle score for females is between 13-18° and in males is between 12-15°, with values greater than and lesser these are considered abnormal and may indicate the patient is at risk of developing chondromalacia patellae, patella alta or mal-tracking of the patella.In a research by Clienger et al, 2021, they mentioned that increase in Q-Angle was found in quadriceps tendinosis, pre-femoral fat pad oedema and trochlear dysplasia.[4]

The video below shows how to measure the Q Angle in a supine position:

[5]


Problems with Measuring 'Q' Angle[edit | edit source]

  • A Problem with using the Q angle as a measure of the lateral pull on the patella is that the line between the ASIS and the mid-patella is only an estimate of the line of pull of the quadriceps and does not necessarily reflect the actual line of pull in the patient being examined.
  • If a substantial imbalance exists between the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles in a patient, the Q angle may lead to an incorrect estimate of the lateral force on the patella because the actual pull of the quadriceps muscle is no longer along the estimated line.
  • Furthermore, a patella that sits in an abnormal lateral position in the femoral sulcus because of imbalanced forces, will yield a smaller Q angle because the patella lies more in line with the ASIS and tibial tuberosity.[6]

Factors Affecting 'Q' Angle[edit | edit source]

Increase in Q angle is associated with[7]:

  • Femoral anteversion
  • External tibial torsion
  • Laterally displaced tibial tubercle
  • Genu valgum: increases the obliquity of the femur and concomitantly, the obliquity of the pull of the quadriceps
  • Quadricep Contraction[8]
  • Height, Age and Gender[9]

Clinical Importance[edit | edit source]

  • An understanding of the normal anatomical and biomechanical features of the patellofemoral joint is essential to any evaluation of knee function. The Q angle formed by the vector for the combined pull of the quadriceps femoris muscle and the patellar tendon, is important because of the lateral pull it exerts on the patella.[10] 
  • Any alteration in alignment that increases the Q angle is thought to increase the lateral force on the patella.
  • This can be harmful because an increase in this lateral force may increase the compression of the lateral patella on the lateral lip of the femoral sulcus.
  • In the presence of a large enough lateral force, the patella may actually sublux or dislocate over the femoral sulcus when the quadriceps muscle is activated on an extended knee.[3]
  • It has also been suggested that an abnormal Q angle may also influence neuromuscular responses and quadriceps reflex response time.

Abnormal Value (Pathology)[edit | edit source]

Genu Valgum[edit | edit source]

Genu Valgus

Genu valgum, commonly called knock knee, is a condition in which the knees angle in and touch each other when the legs are straightened.

Individuals with severe valgus deformities are typically unable to touch their feet together while simultaneously straightening the legs.

Several factors can lead to excessive genu valgum:

  • previous injury,
  • genetic predisposition,
  • high body mass index,
  • laxity of ligaments

Genu valgum may also result from or be exacerbated by abnormal alignment or muscle weakness at either end of the lower extremity which can increase the valgus load on the knee:

  • coxa vara (i.e., a femoral neck-shaft angle less than 125 degrees)
  • weakened hip muscles (such as the gluteus medius)
  • excessive foot pronation (increase the valgus load on the knee by allowing the distal end of the tibia to abduct farther away from the mid line of the body)

Over time, the tensional stress placed on the MCL and adjacent capsule may weaken the tissue., excessive valgus of the knee may negatively affect patellofemoral joint tracking and create additional stress on the ACL.

Standing with a valgus deformity of approximately 10 degrees greater than normal directs most of the joint compression force to the lateral joint compartment.[11] This increased regional stress may lead to lateral uni compartmental osteoarthritis.

Knee replacement surgery may be indicated to correct a valgus deformity, especially if it is progressive, is painful, or causes loss of function.

Genu Varus[edit | edit source]

Genu Varum

Genu means knee and varum means bowed, the term verbally means bowing of knees, hence this condition is also known as bow legs.

It is usually caused by varus stress on tibia.

An X-ray picture with caption genu varum shows the postural presentation of a patient with bow legs (genu varum).

Genu Varum is commonly found in children which may inhibit the growth, causing short stature in children.[12]


Genu Recurvatum[edit | edit source]

Figure showing a patient's leg with Genu Recurvatum [13]

Full extension with slight external rotation is the knee’s close packed, most stable position.

The knee may be extended beyond neutral an additional 5 to 10 degrees, although this is highly variable among persons.

Standing with the knee in full extension usually directs the line of gravity from body weight slightly anterior to the medial-lateral axis of rotation at the knee. Gravity, therefore, produces a slight knee extension torque that can naturally assist with locking of the knee, allowing the quadriceps to relax intermittently during standing.

Normally this gravity-assisted extension torque is resisted primarily by passive tension in the stretched posterior capsule and stretched flexor muscles of the knee, including the gastrocnemius.

Hyperextension beyond 10 degrees of neutral is frequently called genu recurvatum.

Mild cases of recurvatum may occur in otherwise healthy persons, often because of generalized laxity of the posterior structures of the knee.

The primary cause of more severe genu recurvatum is a chronic, overpowering (net) knee extensor torque that eventually overstretches the posterior structures of the knee.

The overpowering knee extension torque may stem from poor postural control or from neuromuscular disease that causes spasticity of the quadriceps muscles and/or paralysis of the knee flexors.[14]

Physiotherapy Management[edit | edit source]

In order to improve Q-angle , a physiotherapist must identify the main cause of deformity. It could be due to muscle contractures, fracture malunion or muscular weakness. If the cause is manageable by physiotherapy then we move on to look for options suitable to eliminate the cause of deformity. We can use following interventions to improve genu varum or valgum or recurvatum :

  • Stretching: Adductors of hip which crosses knee joint are stretched in Genu varus, similarly Quadricep muscles are stretched in the condition of genu recurvatum.
  • Strengthening: If the deformity is due to muscular weakness we would target the muscles that are weak and strengthen them (e.g as we see in the case of genu recurvatum, hamstring is overstretched leading to its inhibition which ultimately cause weakness of hamstring. Strengthening it is going to help improve the genu recurvatum.
  • Pain Management: In order to relieve pain we can use multiple modalities such as TENS, Therapeutic Ultrasound and infrared therapy.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Mohammad-Jafar Emami, Mohammad-Hossein Ghahramani, Farzad Abdinejad and Hamid Namazi . "Q-angle: an invaluable parameter for evaluation of anterior knee pain"(January 2007)
  2. Merchant AC, Fraiser R, Dragoo J, Fredericson M. A reliable Q angle measurement using a standardized protocol. The Knee. 2020 Jun 1;27(3):934-9.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Levangie, P.K. and Norkin, . Joint structure and function: A comprehensive analysis. (2005)
  4. Cilengir AH, Cetinoglu YK, Kazimoglu C, Gelal MF, Mete BD, Elmali F, Tosun O. The relationship between patellar tilt and quadriceps patellar tendon angle with anatomical variations and pathologies of the knee joint. European Journal of Radiology. 2021 Jun 1;139:109719.
  5. tsudpt11. Q angle. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsoXQ8kHwQ
  6. Buckup K.Clinical test for musculoskeletal system. 2006
  7. Singh AP. Q Angle Measurement and Significance. https://boneandspine.com/q-angle/ (last accessed 12 June 2019)
  8. · Belchior AC, Arakaki JC, Bevilaqua-Grossi D, Reis FA, Carvalho PT. Effects in the Q angle measurement with maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the quadriceps muscle. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 2006;12:6-10.
  9. Omololu BB, Ogunlade OS, Gopaldasani VK. Normal Q-angle in an adult Nigerian population. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®. 2009 Aug;467(8):2073-6.
  10. Horton MG, Hall TL. Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Angle:Normal Values and Relationships with Gender and Selected Skeletal Measures. 1989
  11. Johnson F, Leitl S, Waugh W: The distribution of load across the knee. A comparison of static and dynamic measurements,1980
  12. Killen MC, DeKiewiet G. Genu varum in children. Orthopaedics and Trauma. 2020 Dec 1;34(6):369-78.
  13. Image by Couch-scratching-cats, 20021, Mild genu recurvatum in a person with familial ligamentous laxity , Wikimedia, [Assessed on 28, November, 2022]
  14. Benson, Michael; Fixsen, John; Macnicol, Malcolm. Children's Orthopaedics and Fracture(1 August 2009)