Re: Squats and Knee Tilting

[Guest guest]

Mel Siff:

> While a small tendency to produce some valgus is quite natural here, any

> excessive inward tilting or rotation of the knees indeed can pose increased

> risks for the menisci and ligaments of the knee.

*** My question to Dr Siff, is how does one distinguish between

excessive and natural inward tilting or rotation of the knees?

I've noticed that this tilting and rotation occurs during squatting

with some of my clients.

[unfortunately, this is very individual and there is no hard and fast formula.

Since you probably are working with non-competitive general clients, I would

advise that they make definite attempts not to allow the knees to go into more

than

1-2cm of valgus, and to instill this habit from the very beginning with light

weights

or free standing squats. As the load becomes greater, it will become very

difficult to

prevent all valgus, but by that stage, as some members have already noted,

experienced lifters may well utilise

a fairly pronounced valgus without misfortune. I have known many lifters like

that and their knees are still in excellent shape after at least 20 years of

lifting.

It is apparent that we can often quite safely adapt to some apparently

unsafe-looking

patterns of movement without injury or lowered efficiency. Mel Siff]

Maki Riddington

Vancouver BC