Genu Valgum
Definition
A lower extremity alignment where the knees angle inward toward the midline, commonly called 'knock knees.' Measured as the tibiofemoral angle or the distance between the medial malleoli when the knees are touching. Mild valgum is normal, especially in children aged 3-6. Excessive valgum in adults is a structural finding with functional consequences.
Clinical Significance
Genu valgum increases medial knee compartment loading, stretches the MCL, and compresses the lateral meniscus. It is associated with ACL injury risk (especially in women), patellofemoral pain, and IT band syndrome. The root cause is often inadequate hip external rotation strength or excessive femoral internal rotation rather than a knee-specific problem.
How AKMI Assesses This
AKMI measures knee alignment through standing frontal photography, Q-angle estimation, and dynamic assessment during squat and single-leg stance. The assessment cross-references with hip rotation data to determine whether valgus is driven from above (hip) or below (foot/ankle).
Get your knee assessed
A biomechanical assessment measures genu valgum and its relationship to the rest of your structural chain. 18 tests, objective data, personalized programming.