Physical Therapy Assistant Practice Exam

Which patient is likely to exhibit the greatest amount of femoral anteversion?

1. A 6-month-old infant

2. A 9-year-old female with patellofemoral syndrome

3. A 70-year-old male with osteoarthritis

4. A 12-year-old male athlete

The correct answer is: A 9-year-old female with patellofemoral syndrome

Femoral anteversion refers to the inward twisting of the femur, which can affect the alignment of the knee and foot. In children, especially infants and young toddlers, there is typically a higher degree of femoral anteversion present at birth that gradually decreases as they grow. Infants, for example, start with a natural tendency towards greater anteversion, which decreases as they reach around 2 to 3 years of age. In this context, the 9-year-old female with patellofemoral syndrome is likely to exhibit the greatest amount of femoral anteversion. At this age, a child's hip anatomy is still developing, and if there are concerns such as patellofemoral syndrome, it may indicate an underlying biomechanical issue often related to increased femoral anteversion. Typically, as children develop, their femoral anteversion should decrease, but if a child is experiencing patellofemoral issues, this could signify a persistent or abnormal level of anteversion. In contrast, older individuals—such as the 70-year-old male with osteoarthritis—tend to develop changes in the hip joint that can lead to reduced femoral anteversion over time due to adaptations and compensations associated with aging, along with changes in