Anatomy and Physiology of Knee Stability

Abstract

Knee instability has been the focus of large number of studies over the last decade; however, a high incidence rate of injury still exists. The aim of this short report is to examine knee joint anatomy and physiology with respect to knee stability. Knee joint stability requires the integration of a complex set of anatomical structures and physiological mechanism. Compromising any of these structures leads to destabilisation and increased risk of injuries. This review highlights the structure and soft tissue of the knee that contribute to its stability and function. This introduction is part of the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology's Special Issue "The Knee: Structure, Function and Rehabilitation".

Body Mass Index and Segmental Mass Correlation With Elastographic Strain Ratios of the Quadriceps Tendon

“…A higher incidence of injuries occurs from either overuse or underuse of muscles responsible for movement of the knee joint in athletes and individuals who have sedentary lifestyles, respectively. The incidence rate of knee instability is very high among nonathletes (both young and old individuals), and numerous studies have been conducted over the last decade . For instance, in one in‐depth study conducted on professional footballers over 7 consecutive seasons, it was observed that knee instability contributed to the second‐highest injury rate after thigh injury .…”

“…The incidence rate of knee instability is very high among nonathletes (both young and old individuals), and numerous studies have been conducted over the last decade. 1 For instance, in one in-depth study conducted on professional footballers over 7 consecutive seasons, it was observed that knee instability contributed to the second-highest injury rate after thigh injury. 2 Quadriceps tendon injuries have a high chance of occurring during routine physical activity, as the tendon is subjected to motorized weight bearing.…”

The Effect of Implant Conformity on Muscle Force Requirements in the Implanted Knee

“…Instability is a cause of dissatisfaction following TKR (Abulhasan and Grey, 2017;Bourne et al, 2010;Noble et al, 2005) and has been shown to be more significant during demanding activities (Davidson et al, 2013). Knee stability is influenced by the articular geometry, ligament integrity, muscular contraction and kinetic loading conditions of the joint.…”

“…Up to 25% of TKR patients remain dissatisfied with their surgical outcome (Dawson et al, 1998;Nam et al, 2014;Noble et al, 2005). Instability is a cause of dissatisfaction following TKR (Abulhasan and Grey, 2017;Bourne et al, 2010;Noble et al, 2005) and has been shown to be more significant during demanding activities (Davidson et al, 2013). Knee instability can be defined as an inability to maintain a single leg stance due to joint subluxation as a result of pathological laxity, or self reportedly as the sensation of buckling, shifting, or giving way of the knee (Felson et al, 2007).…”

“…Knee instability can be defined as an inability to maintain a single leg stance due to joint subluxation as a result of pathological laxity, or self reportedly as the sensation of buckling, shifting, or giving way of the knee (Felson et al, 2007). Knee instability is commonly used interchangeably with laxity, however laxity is instead a clinical sign that is measured passively, and defined as excessive joint movement of the knee within the constraints of its ligaments (Abulhasan and Grey, 2017).…”