I have to admit that we’re not big on assessments at Performance U as we leave that stuff to the physical therapists because that’s what they’re better trained to do. But, there are a few simple assessment techniques we use to better understand which exercises may work best for certain individuals.
Put simply, we don’t use assessments to determine “dysfunction” as that’s not what we feel fitness professionals are qualified for. Nor is it why people are coming to us in the first place.
Clients come to us to get fitter and better looking. We are the exercise experts and we’re much better than any physical therapist will ever be at finding creative ways to get people training at the appropriate level to get them the results they’re after, regardless of they’re ability and/or limitations.
Here’s a quick and easy knee assessment we use to better optimize and personalize the lower-body strength training exercises we choose for our clients!
As helpful as we’ve found this simple knee assessment to be – i have yet to see other trainers and coaches using it, which is excatly why I’m sharing it with you today and your Valentines day gift 🙂
A few folks have asked me if I had research on this technique. No, I don’t!
This simple assessment is based on nothing more than fundamental anatomy and common sense.
Have a look at this image and you’ll see how the Patella is aligned over the Tibial Tuberosity.
Additionally, I often get asked “Can you fix this kind of knee alignment issue?”
My answer is: I have not seen that you can. And, the honest and humble Therapists I’ve spoken with about stuff like this will tell you that the best you can do is help people to “better control it.”
So, our approach is simple: Build as much strength and stability as we can, using various exercises, all performed in good form, and within pain free ranges.
That’s best we can do and is ALL we can do!
