Essential knee terminology
Q-angle search for term

The Q-angle is a measurement that gives an indication of the likelihood of excessive forces tending to pull the patella over to the outer (lateral) side.

Page updated November 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

QALY search for term

QALY is an abbreviation for quality-adjusted life year (or quality-adjusted life-year) and is a generic measure of disease burden.

Quad sets search for term

Quad sets or quads sets are knee rehabilitation exercises to keep the quadriceps (quads) muscles from becoming inhibited after injury or surgery.

Page updated January 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Quadriceps angle search for term

The Quadriceps angle of the knee is a measurement of the angle between the quadriceps muscles and the patellar tendon and provides useful information about the alignment of the knee joint.

Quadriceps atrophy search for term

Quadriceps atrophy is the physical wasting of the quadriceps muscle.

Quadriceps inhibition search for term

Quadriceps inhibition is a problem that may occur when the knee is very painful, and a reflex inhibits the muscle from contracting.

Page updated January 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Quadriceps lag search for term

A 'quadriceps lag' or 'extension lag' is present when a patient cannot fully 'actively' extend the knee (straighten the leg using muscle contraction), but it can be fully 'passively' extended by the clinician. This implies that there is nothing obstructing the joint.

Page updated January 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Quadriceps muscle search for term

The quadriceps (or 'quads') muscle is the large muscle at the front of the thigh, and is composed of four heads.

Page updated September 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Quadriceps tendinitis search for term

Quadriceps tendinitis is an overuse disorder of the quadriceps tendon.

Quadriceps tendinopathy search for term

Quadriceps tendinopathy is an overuse condition, where the attachment of the quadriceps tendon to the upper pole of the patella (kneecap) becomes painful.

Page updated March 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Quadriceps tendon search for term

The quadriceps tendon is the tendon of the quadriceps muscle, just above the kneecap and into which it inserts.

Quadricepsplasty search for term

Quadricepsplasty is an open surgical procedure to release the rectus femoris part of the quadriceps muscle when adhesions have tied it down to the underlying vastus intermedius muscle.

Page updated March 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Quads search for term

The 'quads' is a short name for the 'Quadriceps muscle'.

Quads tendon search for term

The quads tendon is short for the quadriceps tendon.

Quads tendon graft search for term

A quads tendon graft is used for ligament reconstruction, and is harvested from the lower part of the quadriceps tendon, together with a bit of the patellar bone.

Page updated October 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Quads tendon rupture search for term

Quads tendon rupture is rupture of the tendon of the quadriceps muscle above the patella.

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