Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hip and knee strength with knee valgus angle during drop jump in elite female athletes. Methods: Forty female athletes (mean ± SD age, 21.5 ± 1.99 years; height, 169.08 ± 8.25 cm; body mass, 61.05 ± 10.06 kg) participated in this study. Isometric hip and knee muscles strength were evaluated using standard clinical procedures and a handheld dynamometer. Knee valgus angle was assessed using a 6-camera motion analysis system during a drop jump task. Pearson correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship between hip and knee muscles strength and knee valgus angle at initial contact (P≤0.05). Results: Hip abductor strength and knee flexor-extensor ratio were found to be negatively correlated with knee valgus angle (r = –0.229, P = 0.04 and r = –0.446, P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: No relationship between measure of hip external rotation strength and knee valgus angle was observed (P = 0.39). Strength training of the hip and knee musculature may still need to be addressed in prevention programs, but it also should be combined with teaching proper neuromuscular control through balance, plyometrics and sport-specific exercise.
