The association between different knee exertion injuries and lower limb malalignments
was studied in 121 male athletes with knee exertion injuries and in 20 male athletes
without knee symptoms. The associations between different malalignments was also analyzed.
Leg length inequality (LLI), knee valgus, and different indexes of patellofemoral
joint congruence were measured using radiological methods. Male athletes with patellar
apicitis (n = 59) had significantly more LLI (P < 0.001) and patella alta (P < 0.05) than athletes without knee symptoms. The knee valgus was of the same numerical
value in the shorter and longer leg sides in subjects with LLI of at least 5 mm (n = 58). A positive correlation was found between lateral patellar displacement (LPD)
and patella alta (LT/LP) (P < 0.001). Negative correlations were found between the sulcus angle (SA) and the
lateral patellofemoral angle (LPA) (P < 0.001) as well as between the LPD and the LPA (P < 0.001).
knee - patella - athletic injuries - leg length in-equality
