Section 29: Knee Biomechanics

Structure and Function

29-1
Femur
Articular
capsule
Posterior
cruciate
ligament
Lateral
meniscus
Anterior
cruciate
ligament
Tibia

Anterior
A t i View
Vi off
29-2 From: Garner Right Knee
29-3 From: Iatridis
29-4 From: Peeler
 Quick Facts
• Patellofemoral Joint • PFJ Loading
g
(PFJ) • Walking
• Variations in PFJ loading – 0.3 x body weight
d i OKC ((open ki
during kinetic
ti • Ascending Stairs
chain) and CKC (closed – 2.5 x body weight
kinetic chain) activities • Descending Stairs
• PFJ loading increases: – 3.5 x body weight
– with increased flexion in
• Squatting
CKC
– 7 x body weight
– with increased extension in
OKC

29-5 From: Scifers

 Movements at Joint
3 planes
l off motion
i
• Sagittal
g p
plane ((flex – ext))
– 0° to 140° of flexion
– Largest range
– Most important
p to movement
• Transverse plane (int – ext rotation)
– ROM influenced by position of the joint in the sagittal plane
– Ext – almost no ROM
Ext.
– Max at 90° of knee flexion (45° of ext / 30° of into rotation)
– Beyond 90° of knee flexion rotation decreases because of soft
tissue approximation
• Frontal plane (abd – adduction)
– None with knee in full ext.
– Increases
I as knee
k moves to t 30° off flexion
fl i
29-6 From: Peeler
29-7 From: Iatridis
29-8 From: Peeler
29-9 From: Iatridis
29-10 From: Iatridis
29-11 From: Peeler
29-12 From: Iatridis