The relevance of figure-of-eight walk test to hip muscle strength in healthy young males

Shinichiro Oka; Tomoaki Tokunaga; Rei Yamamoto

doi:10.1589/jpts.35.789

The relevance of figure-of-eight walk test to hip muscle strength in healthy young males

J Phys Ther Sci. 2023 Dec;35(12):789-792. doi: 10.1589/jpts.35.789. Epub 2023 Dec 1.

Authors

Shinichiro Oka¹, Tomoaki Tokunaga², Rei Yamamoto³

Affiliations

¹ School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Reiwa Health Sciences University: 2-1-12 Wajirogaoka, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 811-0213, Japan.
² Department of Rehabilitation, Tanushimaru Central Hospital, Japan.
³ Department of Rehabilitation, Saiseikai Karatsu Hospital, Japan.

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the contribution of hip muscle torque to figure-of-eight walk (F8W) test in healthy young males. [Participants and Methods] Twenty healthy young males (40 limbs; mean age, 21.7 ± 0.6 years) participated. We measured the maximum F8W speed and steps. The hip muscle strengths (MS) of the flexor, extensor, abductor, and adductor muscles as well as the internal and external rotators (ER) were measured using a handheld belt-stabilized dynamometer. The hip muscle torque to weight-bearing index (WBI) is expressed as the measured MS divided by the lower thigh or shin length and body weight. [Results] F8W-time and F8W-rate were relevant to the ER-WBI (F8W time: β=-0.330; F8W rate: β=0.369). [Conclusion] This study's findings suggest that hip ER strength contributes to F8W in healthy young males.

Keywords: Figure of eight walk test; Hip extensor muscle torque; Walking and turning ability.