Is your knee pain related to your ankle? chances are… YES!

CORE Physical Therapy In Omaha Explains…

By Dr. Mark Rathjen PT DPT CSCS

CORE Physical Therapy Co-owner

17660 Wright street sites 9/10

Omaha NE

2021

402-933-4027

As shown in the study below, valgus of the knee in landing, sprinting, jogging, is related to the range of motion of the ankle. If the ankle lacks proper range of Dorsiflexion, (pulling of the foot upward towards the knee) the force is normally going to transfer to some degree above. In this case it’s the knee.

Knee valgus is internal rotation of the hip and subsequent medial knee shear and MCL stress. We also know that knee valgus during sports has a large correlation of the risk of ACL tears in Athletes. You do not want to tangle with a lengthy ACL reconstruction.

What does all of this mean?

Knee forces are a result of what the hip cannot control, and the ankle cannot absorb. The knee is generally the weakest link in the chain and will feel the stress and effect of the other joints lack of motion.

Ok, so what should I do about this?

For proper knee health, we need to make sure there is adequate ankle motion for full absorption of forces. We often see this as a factors of squatting mechanical deficiencies as well. DO NOT neglect stretching your ankle, calf, achilles and gastric soleus complex.

Anything else?

Yes, Knee control comes from the above joint as well, in the HIP. If the hip is lacking mobility or ability to control forces absorption into medial knee stress the you will have knee pain. Its knee pain caused by your hip! We see this time and time again in our Athletes in Omaha.

You need to….Stretch, Strengthen, Proper mechanical training, Symmetrical motion analysis.

Find yourself a sports specialized Doctor of Physical Therapy for a full analysis before knee pain knocks you out of the competition because chances are…

YOUR KNEE IS NOT THE ISSUE…

 

. 2018 Jan;29:61-69.

doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2017.07.003.Epub 2017 Jul 19.

The association of ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic knee valgus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Yuri Lopes Lima 1, Victor Matheus Leite Mascarenhas Ferreira 1, Pedro Olavo de Paula Lima 1, Márcio Almeida Bezerra 1, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Oliveira 1, Gabriel Peixoto Leão Almeida 2
Affiliations

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the association between ankle dorsiflexion (ADF) and dynamic knee valgus (DKV).

Methods: Electronic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus. A modified Downs and Black checklist was used for quality assessment and meta-analysis was performed to compare standardised mean differences (SMD) of ADF.

Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed that reduced ADF is associated with participants presenting with DKV compared to controls (SMD -0.65, 95% CI -0.88 to -0.41). Subgroup analysis showed consistent results regarding different forms of ADF measurement; restriction in ADF measured in weight-bearing position (SMD -1.25, 95% CI -2.24 to -0.25), non-weight-bearing with knee flexed (SMD -0.56, 95% CI -0.97 to -0.16) or non-weight-bearing with knee extended (SMD -0.54, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.28) was significantly associated with DKV.

Conclusion: The meta-analysis results provide evidence that reduced ADF is correlated with DKV. The assessment of ADF in the clinical setting is important, as it may be related to harmful movement patterns of the lower limbs.

Keywords: Ankle dorsiflexion; Knee valgus; Range of motion.

 

17660 Wright St, Suites 9/10

Omaha, NE 68130

402-930-4027

At CORE Physical Therapy in Omaha, We specialize in the treatment of athletes. We have worked with athletes for a combined 30 years. CORE was established in 2015 by Dr. Mark and Dr. Claire Rathjen is family owned and operated.

We are proud to serve the greater Omaha metro area.

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