The last blog noted that the knee it to knee out and heel moving inwards after ground contact is the patterning seen in a backwards moving athlete (high jumper) that (correctly) loads the inside edge/big toe side of the foot in order to complete the backward trajectory needed during the sport task. The high jumper’s pattern was juxtaposed with that of Michael Jordan, a forward moving jumper.
My views on many commonly used gym exercises have changed recently because the motor pattern they ingrain into the nervous system is for backward movement. This is harmful because the trainee takes this pattern learned in the gym into movements during life and sport that aren’t in a backward direction.
Take a look at the video below of the power clean. Now for most observers, the valgus at the knee especially on the right side is a concern; and I agree, it is a concern. The more alarming thing, however, is the fact that the trainee is applying force from the inside edge of the foot at the big toe, the knee goes inward to outward, and the heels go in. This is the backward moving software seen by the high jumper. What good is backward moving software for the forward and side to side moving person or athlete? Good for a rise in injury risk unfortunately.
Loading the inside edge of the foot is structural collapse of the lower extremity for the non-backward moving athlete. Below is more evidence of what happens when inside edge of the foot loading occurs — knee in to out, hip internal rotation to external rotation, heels move inward after takeoff.
Athletes or trainees should not practice the foot collapse positioning nor the motor patterning for moving backwards unless they have specific demands related to moving backwards, which isn’t common. Trainees are learning to move forward with reverse mechanics. This promotes gradual wear and tear on joints and connective tissues and non-contact injuries in life and sport. Forward moving trainees need to learn the mechanics shown by injury resistant athletes, like Michael Jordan, not that of a high jumper.
