Knee Joint Stabilisation Clinical Correlation of Knee Joint Stability
Clinical Correlation of Knee Joint Stability
As can be seen from the above discussion, the knee joint function is dependent upon static and dynamic factors. In general terms, the static factors can not be influenced in the normal knee, eg the bony geometry or ligament size and position. The dynamic structures however can be influenced and are of vital importance in normal knee joint function. The muscles can be strengthened with appropriate training regimes. Certain static deficiencies can be overcome by appropriate strengthening and training of the dynamic component of the knee. For example, in an anterior cruciate deficient knee, strengthening of the quadriceps and hamstring mechanism along with appropriate co-ordination training can control instability to allow the person to undertake various low risk sports and certainly will control antero-posterior instability. However, even with dynamic muscular training with an absent ACL, rotation stability cannot be offset by muscular training and so the knee will still be prone to giving way with twisting on the weight bearing ACL deficient knee.
The majority of rehabilitation regimes following injury and surgery to the knee emphasise the importance of training and strengthening the dynamic stabilisers to the knee and this is particularly important in patello-femoral pain syndromes where the muscular control of the patella is vital.
