THE ROLE OF KNEES IN RUNNING
 The
knee is an anatomical part of our body called a joint. The
knee is one of the most important joints of our body. It plays
an essential role in movement related to carrying the body
weight in horizontal (running and walking) and vertical (jumps)
directions. In general, the importance of knee joints can’t
be overestimated. In fact, it is so obvious, that there is
no necessity to try to prove it.
But besides this obvious fact, there is also some other information
about their function in running, which is very valuable and
should be understood.
Traditionally, in the conventional paradigm of running, the
knee function was understood as that of a joint producing
the most power output for the forward propulsion, through,
the so called, “push off” motion. This action
is related with an active unbending or straightening of the
knee of the support leg. Certainly, it is hard not to believe
it, because what we see during the support time is very visual
knee‘s flexing and extending motions, produced by visual
and sensible muscular activity. A visual outcome of this activity
is the forward movement of the body.
Well, you could say, what is here to discuss? Isn’t
it clear that the activity of our knees makes us run faster?
Another confirmation of this? No problem! Anatomically, the
front side of the knee joint is surrounded by the most powerful
knee extensor muscles of the quads, attached to one of the
strongest (knee patella) tendon. At the rear, posterior side,
the four strong muscles of the hamstring group are attached
to the same joint.
OK, what is hidden from our sight now? Anatomical and mechanical
facts seem to be so evident, it’s easy to make a conclusion
that the knee functions as the most active joint in running.
The answer to this would be “yes” and “no’.
Yes, this joint is heavily involved anatomically and mechanically
in running, and no, the function of this joint is not as obvious
as we might think.
There are such facts as an extensor paradox and low vertical
oscillation of the GCM of the body in running that reveal
to us the real function of the knee in running, which is not
related to active extension, but to flexion. Therefore during
the support time the knee is just relatively fixed, and then
flexed, when the support is over. The logic that follows is
that we shouldn’t even think about knee extension, to
say nothing about any efforts to do so.
Basically, the knee joint and related muscles and tendons
surrounding it just accept the body weight load to provide
for its fall forward and then flex to make easier the legs
transfer under the body for the next support. So this function
doesn’t have anything to do with any “activity”
to propel the body weight forward.
It’s quite challenging to separate visual and functional
activity of the knee in running and it requires a bit of abstraction
from the “reality”, which we would “like”
to see. Yes it is hard to reject what looks so obvious, but
this is what actually helps you to save your knees in running.
Dr.Romanov
Pose
running website
PoseTech
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