What does knee adduction moment mean in Yoga, exercise & knee arthritis?

The external knee adduction moment represents the net medial-to-total joint distribution of load at the knee. As shown in picture above, during the stance phase of walking, an external adduction moment acts around the knee joint, which tends to rotate the tibia medially with respect to the femur in the frontal plane.

What does this mean?

A higher knee adduction moment when you step on your foot (to load your knee), could be a reason why you’re having pain!

A high knee adduction moment reflects increased compressive forces acting on the medial aspect of the knee and is widely regarded as a surrogate measure of medial knee compression.

Therefore, more knee adduction moment = could be more pain!

What does this have to do with Exercise & Yoga?

A major goal in use of therapeutic exercise is to minimize osteoarthritis progression at the knee, which entails minimizing the knee adduction moment. The role of abnormal knee joint loading can be implemented in the progression of structural knee osteoarthritis.

Knee adduction moment magnitude has been shown to increase with knee OA severity and exercise programs need to be designed to limit knee adduction moment.

How does PhysioFit of NC’s class help arthritis of the knee?

Using research and combined 20 years of experience, our physical therapists have teamed up with certified Yoga instructors to provide exercises that maximize muscle strength of the limbs and minimize knee adduction moment.

Our exercise program is designed to maximize strength and minimize overloading the knee joint.

Considering the loads on the knees are different between the front and back leg (during some poses), we keep that in mind too!