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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

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Muscle strength in knee varus and valgus.

L Q Zhang¹, D Xu, G Wang

¹Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60611, USA. L-zhang@northwestern.edu

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

|July 11, 2001

Summary

Humans can generate significant knee varus and valgus strength, with strength varying based on knee position. This muscle strength is crucial for knee stability and injury prevention.

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In vivo Measurement of Knee Extensor Muscle Function in Mice

In vivo Measurement of Knee Extensor Muscle Function in Mice

Published on: March 4, 2021

Area of Science:

Biomechanics
Human Movement Science
Orthopedics

Background:

Knee joint stability relies on complex muscle interactions.
Understanding lower-limb muscle strength in frontal plane knee motion is essential for injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate lower-limb muscle strength in knee varus and valgus.
To determine the dependence of this strength on knee varus-valgus position.
To test the hypothesis that medial and lateral knee muscles can be differentially contracted to generate significant varus-valgus moments.

Main Methods:

Subjects performed maximal voluntary contractions for knee varus and valgus with hips clamped.
Electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded from knee muscles.
Knee joint moments were measured using a six-axis force sensor.
Fluoroscopy evaluated frontal plane tibiofemoral movement.

Main Results:

Subjects demonstrated differential contraction of medial and lateral knee muscles.
Significant knee varus and valgus strength was observed.
Active knee varus strength increased with knee valgus angle.
Valgus strength was higher in a varus position, and varus strength was higher in a valgus position.
Passive resistance moment increased linearly with varus-valgus angles.

Conclusions:

Differential muscle activation confirms the hypothesis.
Significant varus-valgus muscle strength contributes to functional tasks and joint stability.
This strength plays a role in preventing knee injuries, regardless of primary load direction.