A comparison of knee joint moments during high flexion squatting and kneeling postures in healthy individuals.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nDeep knee bending has been reported as an occupational hazard to workers who have to adopt such postures. High knee joint moments have been associated with knee osteoarthritis initiation and progression.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nThis study aimed to compare four high knee flexion postures (dorsiflexed and plantarflexed kneeling, and flat-foot and heels-up squatting) to determine which one results in lower knee joint flexion and ab/adduction moments.\n\n\nMETHODS\nForty-three participants performed five trials of each posture. Peak (for descent/ascent) and mean (for the static hold) external knee flexion and ab/adduction moments were analyzed for each posture using 2-way ANOVAs and post-hoc pairwise comparisons.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIt was observed that the flat-foot squat resulted in significantly lower knee flexion moment compared to the other three postures (4.64±0.99 % BW·H during the static phase, and 5.83±1.24 % BW·H and 5.95±1.23 % BW·H during ascent and descent phases, respectively). During ascent phase, significant differences was indicated in peak adduction moments for the flat-foot squat in comparison to both styles of kneeling.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nWhen high knee flexion is required but posture is not dictated, flat-foot squat will reduce exposures to high knee moments.