Lesson
Loads on Knee
Compressive forces at the patellofemoral joint
Normal walking gait: 1/2 body weight
Stair climbing: upto over 3 times body weight
Patellofemoral compression increases with knee flexion during weight-bearing (implication for golf) because:
- Increased knee flexion increases the compressive component of force acting at the knee AND,
- As knee flexion increases, a larger amount of quadriceps tendon tension is required to prevent the knee from buckling with gravity, with eccentric muscle tension