The Q Angle and Injuries in Women Athletes Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Health and Safety Q Angle Injuries and Pain in Women Athletes By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 19, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Michael Lau, PT, DPT Medically reviewed by Michael Lau, PT, DPT Michael Lau, PT, DPT, CSCS, is a licensed physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, and co-founder of The Prehab Guys. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Jasper Cole / Blend Images / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Sports Injuries Contributed to by the Q Angle Treatment Tips The Q angle is a measurement of pelvic width that is thought to contribute to sports injury risk in women. Women have biomechanical differences from men. Female hormones result in a wider pelvis, making it easier to give birth. But this difference can have consequences when playing sports. Many sports medicine experts have linked a wider pelvis to a larger Q (quadriceps) angle, which is the angle at which the femur (upper leg bone) meets the tibia (lower leg bone). The Q angle is measured by creating two intersecting lines: one from the center of the patella (kneecap) to the anterior superior iliac spine of the pelvis; the other from the patella to the tibial tubercle. On average, this angle is three degrees greater in women than in men (17 degrees average for women compared with 14 degrees for men). An increased Q angle places more stress on the knee joint, as well as leading to increased foot pronation. Women' s Sports Injuries Contributed to by the Q Angle While there may be other factors that lead to increased risk of injury in women athletes (strength, skill, hormones, etc.), an increased Q angle has been linked to the following conditions. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome A high Q angle causes the quadriceps to pull on the patella (kneecap) and leads to poor patellar tracking. Over time, this may cause knee pain and muscle imbalance. The pain is felt under and around the kneecap. Orthotics and arch supports may be recommended. While linked by some researchers, others have not found the same association, so this remains controversial. Chondromalacia of the Knee This wearing down of the cartilage on the underside of the patella leads to degeneration of the articular surfaces of the knee. The chief symptom is pain under and around the kneecap. ACL Injuries Women have considerably higher rates of ACL injuries than men. An increased Q angle appears to be one factor that causes the knee to be less stable and under more stress. However, as with patellofemoral pain, this remains controversial, and some studies find no association between the Q angle and knee injuries. Aid Your ACL Injury Recovery and Treatment With These Simple Stretches Treatment Tips for Women With Q Angle-Related Injuries Orthotics Custom-made, flexible orthotics decrease the Q angle and reduce pronation, putting less stress on the knee. Motion-control shoes can correct overpronation, but a custom orthotic will ensure that all elements of the foot and leg dynamics are accounted for and corrected. Strengthening Exercises to Reduce ACL Injuries in Women Reductions in ACL injuries have been seen with the implementation of ACL injury prevention programs designed for women. Strengthening the vastus medialis obliquus can also help increase the stability of the knee joint in women. Strengthening may require a particular focus on the timing of muscle contractions. Closed-chain exercises (such as wall squats) are currently recommended. It is also vital to strengthen the glutes to improve stability. 7 Best Glute Exercises for a Stronger Butt Stretching Exercises Stretching of tight muscles and strengthening weak areas should be included. Muscles commonly found to be tight include the quadriceps, hamstrings, iliotibial band, and gastrocnemius. Stretching Exercises to Try How to Do Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch: Techniques, Benefits, Variations Iliotibial (IT) Band Stretches You Can Do at Home How to Do a Standing Quadriceps Stretch: Techniques, Benefits, Variations 5 Simple Stretches for Tight Hamstrings to Try at Home How to Do a Towel Calf Stretch: Techniques, Benefits, Variations Why Women Need a Strength Training Routine 3 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Khasawneh RR, Allouh MZ, Abu-el-rub E. Measurement of the quadriceps (Q) angle with respect to various body parameters in young Arab population. PLoS ONE. 2019;14(6):e0218387. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218387 Petersen W, Ellermann A, Gösele-koppenburg A, et al. Patellofemoral pain syndrome. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2014;22(10):2264-74. doi:10.1007/s00167-013-2759-6 Mitani Y. Gender-related differences in lower limb alignment, range of joint motion, and the incidence of sports injuries in Japanese university athletes. J Phys Ther Sci. 2017;29(1):12-15. doi:10.1589/jpts.29.12 Additional Reading Kızılgöz V, Sivrioğlu AK, Ulusoy GR, Aydın H, Karayol SS, Menderes U. Analysis of the Risk Factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: An Investigation of Structural Tendencies. Clinical Imaging. 2018;50:20-30. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2017.12.004. By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. 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