Techniques to determine knee joint contact forces during squatting: A systematic review

Abstract

This review article provides an overview of techniques used to determine human knee joint contact forces during squatting. The main two approaches are experimental and theoretical. Thigh calf contact has a significant effect on knee forces and should not be neglected. In this study, data were searched electronically and organized by techniques to find knee joint contact force during squatting theoretically and experimentally. There was a large variation in peak tibiofemoral (CV = 0.45) and patellofemoral (CV = 0.38) contact forces predicted theoretically. However, very little variation was observed between peak tibiofemoral contact forces (CV = 0.12) measured in vivo experimentally but measured knee joint force is available up to a limited knee flexion angle. There was a reduction in knee joint contact forces due to thigh calf contact. Literature of knee joint contact force prediction theoretically during squatting incorporating thigh calf contact force is very limited.

The Limitations of Anterior Knee Displacement during Different Barbell Squat Techniques: A Comprehensive Review

“…Furthermore, at more than 50 • knee flexion, a 6 • difference in knee flexion does not significantly change the length of the moment arm to the center of mass of the body, although a reduction of the sagittal moment of 43-63% with a foam knee support was found [73]. Similarly, a 59% reduction in calculated compressive knee force due to thighcalf contact was found for a deep bodyweight squat (25 • ) [74], which is an often overlooked and a not well studied topic when it comes to knee joint contact force prediction [75].…”