Determining the relationship between Q angle and foot plantar pressure

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine relationship between Q angle, foot plantar pressure, navicular drop test, calcaneo-tibial angle and femoral anteversion angle. Method: 64 healthy participants with an average age of 22,3±2.53 (33 male, 31 female) were included in the study. Evaluation were conducted at Dokuz Eylul University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Balance and Gait Analysis Laboratory. Calcaneo-tibial angle, navicular drop test, femoral anteversion angle, Q angle were measured as for anthropometric EMED-m (Novel gmbh, Almanya) was used for dynamic foot plantar pressure measurements. Results: The average Q angle values in standing and supine positions were 11± 3.980 and 12±3.640, respectively. There was no significant difference in Q angles between male and female participants (p=0.697). Stepwise-backward regression analysis showed that Q angle values contributed to peak pressures, maximum forces, force-time integrals and pressure-time integrals of 1st toe and metatars, 2nd toe and metatars, 5th toe and metatars, midfoot and total foot. Conclusion: Although Q angle measurement has low sensitivity and reliability levels due to measurement technique, we think it may be considered as an important kinematic data to predict potential risks under the foot in various clinical conditions. Still, standardization of Q angle measurements and how it is interpreted in clinical problems may require further research. Key words: Q angle, calcaneo-tibial angle, navicular drop test, femoral anteversion angle, plantar pressure