The E3 Rehab Podcast 197. Knee Valgus [Debunking Series: Episode 7]
20 snips
Apr 22, 2025 Marc Surdyka, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, joins to unravel the truths about knee valgus. He addresses widespread misconceptions and its implications for squatting and running, emphasizing that muscle coordination is key to managing knee alignment. The discussion pushes back against traditional injury risk assessments, advocating for tailored training strategies. Surdyka also highlights the importance of comprehensive techniques to prevent ACL injuries, suggesting that effective injury prevention blends performance training with a nuanced understanding of movement patterns.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Knee Valgus Definition Explored
- Knee valgus is tibial abduction relative to the femur and often misunderstood as the knee moving medially.
- It typically includes hip internal rotation, hip adduction, and foot pronation as observed in dynamic scenarios like squatting.
Variability in Knee Valgus
- Knee valgus varies by speed, load, movement type, and context, which affects injury risk.
- Higher risk is intuitively linked to sports with quick, high-load, single-leg, shallow knee flexion motions.
Squatting Knee Valgus Misconceptions
- Knee valgus in squatting is commonly blamed on pronation or glute weakness, but evidence is inconsistent.
- In trained lifters, valgus near max loads may be a strategic co-activation of hip extensors, not weakness.