Others who suffered a non-contact ACL tear showed the same knee valgus, arch collapse, and ankle pronation seen in this video. This is a very common structural collapse seen repeatedly on social media among many different populations, including professional athletes.
The upper and lower legs bones will be rotating in opposite directions and will gradually harm the knee because the system is not being used as intended. The strain on the knee worsens as the athlete or trainee rotates the torso away from the leg bones rotating in opposite directions as seen in the video above and screenshot below. Lots of rotation going on but not in done in directional unison.
Below are examples of NBA and NFL players that have torn their ACLs in similar or better positions relative to the trainee featured above. Ankle pronation, arch collapse, and knee valgus are commonalities in these injuries. Do not mimic these structurally collapsed patterns during on-field or in-gym training.
A bow legged (genu varum) position with a supinated foot and knee facing outward is the protective position to change direction from. In this way, the torso and both lower leg bones are rotating in the same direction and cannot tear the knee ligaments while the foot’s arch remains intact. Below is an example of proper change of direction mechanics.
Trainee shows proper change of direction patterning with bowed leg, knee facing outward, ankle supination, torso rotated towards the plant leg and head over foot positioning. The rotation of the system is moving in the same direction in unison, and there is no structural collapse. These mechanics are reminiscent of how injury-resistant athletes like Barry Sanders and Michael Jordan changed direction.
