A Biomechanical and Neuromuscular Investigation of Femoroacetabular Impingement: Understanding Pathomechanics using Inclined and Declined Walking

Abstract

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a proliferative musculoskeletal diagnosis in young adults. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of challenged walking on gait mechanics in individuals with FAI compared to matched asymptomatic individuals. Two groups of seven underwent gait analysis during level, incline and decline walking. Kinematic data and surface electromyography were recorded using standardized procedures. Sagittal plane kinematics and activation of the gluteus maximus and medius were calculated. A 2-way mixed methods ANOVA identified differences in kinematics and neuromuscular activations. Significant main effects for condition were found for all biomechanical and neuromuscular variables (p≤0.05). No significant between group differences were found; however, moderate to large effect sizes were identified for sagittal plane hip range of motion, peak hip extension, gluteus maximus and gluteus medius. Results suggest that challenged walking may elicit novel biomechanical and neuromuscular alterations between individuals with FAI and asymptomatic controls.