Key points of a runner’s knee clinical assessment

A non-traumatic knee problem is, most of the time, linked to something happening upstream – the hip – or downstream – the ankle.

To keep it fairly simple, let’s simplify the knee assessment to the way the legs look in a standing position.

 

Excessive knee abduction – knees are close to each other / legs look like an “X”.

 

  • This can be linked to reduced strength of the following muscles: gluteus medius and hamstrings.
  • Hips and knees can be internally rotated, and we observe an opposite side pelvic drop.
  • The foot can show over-pronation / “too flat”

 

For reduced knee abduction – knees are far from each other / legs look “brackets”.

  • No proved links with muscle strength issues.
  • The other 2 parameters are opposite to the previously described mechanisms.

 

In our next post, we will try to summarize the key information from the previous weeks posts.

 

There are definitely common patterns runners are facing. We can try to work on these in order to prevent injuries and increase performance.

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