Name common mobility/stability deficits that can contribute to knee valgus during squats and their corrective focus.

Name common mobility/stability deficits that can contribute to knee valgus during squats and their corrective focus.

• A. Limited ankle dorsiflexion, hip mobility limitations, weak gluteus medius/hip abductors, and quadriceps dominance.
• B. Excellent ankle dorsiflexion and hip mobility; strong gluteus medius; balanced quadriceps.
• C. Only knee pain.
• D. Only ankle plantarflexion.

Answer: (A)

Knee valgus during squats is often driven by a combination of mobility limits and stability weaknesses in the lower body, plus an overreliance on the quadriceps. Limited ankle dorsiflexion makes it hard to keep the shin vertical as you descend, so the knee tends to move inward to compensate, which can pull the knee into valgus. Improving ankle dorsiflexion and teaching cues to keep weight back and the knee tracking over the toes helps prevent this inward collapse. Hip mobility restrictions—especially in flexion and rotation—can force the thigh to rotate or adduct in a way that lets the knee cave inward; increasing hip mobility and reinforcing proper hip drive during the squat keeps the knee aligned. Weakness of the gluteus medius and other hip abductors reduces lateral stability at the knee, so the femur can drop inward under load; targeted glute/hip abductor strengthening (like side-lying or banded abduction exercises, monster walks, and single-leg work) builds the control needed to maintain knee alignment. Quadriceps dominance—where the quads do most of the work with less posterior chain engagement—can pull the knee forward and medially during squats; coaching cues to engage the glutes and hamstrings, adjust technique, and emphasize hip-driven action help balance the load. The other options describe ideal function or incomplete factors (e.g., no mobility or stability deficits, or focusing only on pain), which don’t explain why valgus might occur or how to correct it.

Knee valgus during squats is often driven by a combination of mobility limits and stability weaknesses in the lower body, plus an overreliance on the quadriceps. Limited ankle dorsiflexion makes it hard to keep the shin vertical as you descend, so the knee tends to move inward to compensate, which can pull the knee into valgus. Improving ankle dorsiflexion and teaching cues to keep weight back and the knee tracking over the toes helps prevent this inward collapse. Hip mobility restrictions—especially in flexion and rotation—can force the thigh to rotate or adduct in a way that lets the knee cave inward; increasing hip mobility and reinforcing proper hip drive during the squat keeps the knee aligned. Weakness of the gluteus medius and other hip abductors reduces lateral stability at the knee, so the femur can drop inward under load; targeted glute/hip abductor strengthening (like side-lying or banded abduction exercises, monster walks, and single-leg work) builds the control needed to maintain knee alignment. Quadriceps dominance—where the quads do most of the work with less posterior chain engagement—can pull the knee forward and medially during squats; coaching cues to engage the glutes and hamstrings, adjust technique, and emphasize hip-driven action help balance the load.

The other options describe ideal function or incomplete factors (e.g., no mobility or stability deficits, or focusing only on pain), which don’t explain why valgus might occur or how to correct it.