Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums

You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members, upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, access other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisements in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!

  1. Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
Dismiss Notice
Have you liked us on Facebook to get our updates? Please do. Click here for our Facebook page.
Dismiss Notice
Do you get the weekly newsletter that Podiatry Arena sends out to update everybody? If not, click here to organise this.

Knee adduction moments

Discussion in 'Biomechanics, Sports and Foot orthoses' started by Dan T, Jan 23, 2024.

  1. Dan T

    Dan T Active Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Good evening.
    Still learning as I go. I understand the concept of a knee adduction moment as seen in varum and therefore understand the efficacy of lateral posts to offload medial knee OA..... even if this needs to be done with medial rear foot support to maintain a functional foot.
    I use lateral postings and heel raises with moderate arch fills for those with a propensity to lateral ankle sprains/cuboid/supinated feet shiz however.... I note that many supinated feet come with valgum knee types. Questions are:
    - has any one else noticed supinated feet often corresponding to knee valgum.
    - could the knee deformity be explained by lateral STJ axis during development or incidental.
    -is their such a thing as a knee abduction moment and what is the intermediate to long term risks of laterally posting feet with knee valgum. Is there the same risk of lateral knee compartment issues be it meniscus or OA as a consequence of this prescription.
    I tend to prescribe aggressive glute strengthening aimed at external hip rotation to counteract the lateral posting in these people however I'm not sure if I'm overthinking or off the mark in this regard.
    Any answer gratefully received
    Appreciate your time
     
  2. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
  3. efuller

    efuller MVP

    ABduction and ADduction moment are all an alignment problem. We are doing free body diagram analysis here and when doing that you have to carefully define what object your are talking about. This is why I'm talking about moment on the lower leg rather than moment on the knee. When the center of pressure on the top of the tibia is lateral to the center of pressure under the foot (genu varum) you will have an external lower leg adduction moment. (Draw the lower leg and the arrows from body weight applied to the top of the tibia and ground reaction force under the foot) To maintain equilibrium, (prevent the lower leg from adducting) there has to be an internal abduction moment from the structures of the knee. The structures at the knee that create the internal abduction moment (resisting the external abduction moment) are increased compression of the medial compartment and tension in the lateral collateral ligaments.

    When the forces (body weight on top of the lower leg, and ground reaction force under the lower leg) are not aligned the distance between the line of action of the two forces is proportional to the magnitude of the moment. So the goal of treatment is to make the line of action of the forces closer together and one way of doing that is shifting the center of pressure under foot. This is what a lateral wedge does.

    With genu valgum, you get the opposite of the above. Just draw the picture.


    Pronation and genu valgum: With pronation of the subtalar joint you can have the center of pressure under the foot anywhere depending on the range of motion of the subtalar joint. When a subtalar joint runs out of range of motion before the medial forefoot hits the ground this will cause the center of pressure to be under the lateral side of the foot. (A foot, in Root theory, that has a partially compensated varus, either forefoot or rearfoot). This will tend to create an abduction moment on the lower leg. An abduction moment on the lower leg will tend to create a genu valgum. Treat by shifting the center of pressure more medially with a varus wedge.
     
Loading...

Share This Page