A postural program to reduce dynamic knee valgus during single-limb squatting in young athletes: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND: Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) is an undesirable multi-joint movement pattern associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury and patellofemoral pain syndrome, especially in sport activities. We assessed DKV in young athletes who followed a postural program to reduce a posterior rigidity mostly attributable to the tightness of hamstring muscles. METHODS: We considered 12-to 18-year-old athletes that followed a six-week program simply based on hamstring stretching and abdominal muscle activation/strengthening. DKV was assessed during a single-limb squat and the frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) between the femur and tibia was considered. RESULTS: Sixty-six athletes with a significant DKV (FPPA>10 degrees) were identified. Twenty-one subjects exhibited the considered rigidity profile and completed the intervention program. The mean reduction of the FPPA after the intervention was 8.1 +/- 7.9 degrees, significantly asymmetric by about 3 degrees (P<0.005) and skewed towards larger negative differences. The average change from the initial condition of-37 +/- 25% was statistically significant (P=1.7 x10-6). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary result suggests that working on enhancing posterior muscle chain flexibility could be effective in reducing DKV in young athletes with a marked tightness of hamstring muscles. Moreover, this simple postural program can be a candidate for inclusion in sport training as a protective strategy against knee injuries. (Cite this article as: Sabina S, Tumolo MR, Guarino R, Bodini A, Di Paola M, Colella R, et al. A postural program to reduce dynamic knee valgus during single-limb squatting in young athletes: a preliminary study. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2022;62:1693-1701. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.22.13532-2)