If you own a car you know the simple rules to keeping your car healthy and running smoothly, oil lube, tune-ups and alignments. Not performing services regularly lead to wear and tear on the car and costly repairs or breakdowns.
Well, the human body is no different. Injuries occur if not balanced or properly aligned. The body is a smart machine that knows how to compensate to keep moving despite pain, fatigue or injuries.
Looking at the alignment of the lower extremity helps in assessing injuries or potential problems. Although, if a rare or progressing deformity exists then a radiograph analysis is performed.
When evaluating the lower extremity a healthcare professional assess the relationship of the hip, knee and ankle from a frontal and posterior view. This is done through postural observation. In evaluating the lower extremity the assessment begins with the pelvis.
1. Assessing the levels of the pelvis or hip bone, are they equal in height or is one higher than the other side.
2. Do the kneecaps point straight ahead or does one or both point inward (squinting patella) or in rare cases outward (frog eyes). Is one kneecap higher than the other, or are they equal in height.
3. Are the knees straight? Standing with the ankles touching, if the knees are more than a two finger widths, the person has genu varum (bowl legged). If the knees touch and the feet are apart, the person has genu valgum (knock-knee).
4. Is there a visible arch in the feet and are they equal? Is the foot flat (pronated) or a high arch (supinated).
5. Do the feet angle out equally and how much? Do the toes point inward (pigeon toed) or outward.
The alignment in addition to observing muscle tissue may indicate pathology, or it may be related to a person’s job or recreational/sports activities. Evaluating the static posture can be important in learning how or why a person might be experiencing knee, hip, ankle or back pain. The posture can point to areas of weakness, tight muscles or increased stress on the joints. This information is useful for a healthcare pr fitness professional in determining the proper course of treatment.
It is also important to note that mis-alignments can be structural, as is the case with a scoliosis or non-structural (postural). However, in either instance an individual can avoid problems by knowing the proper exercises and stretches to help keep the body balanced and prevent injuries. This will help to keep the body running smooth and prevent injuries.
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