Knees get a bad rap. Of the top seven most common sports injuries, three of them are knee-related. Even for non-athletes, creaking, popping and aching seem to be practically inevitable.
I used to buy in to the conventional wisdom that knees are poor shock absorbers, cursed by design with an inexplicable fragility. I’ve since realised that this is like failing to drive a nail with a bullwhip; yeah, it makes a poor hammer—but “fragile” isn’t exactly the word I would use.
If you’ve read just about any of my other articles, then you’re well aware of the super-cool, force-muliplying function of your foot and ankle. All of that force, which winds up as internal rotation of the tibia, has to somehow get to the pelvis as external rotation so that it can be used as propulsion for our center of gravity.
Rather than a shock absorber, The knee is the adapter which allows that shift to happen. When your knee bends, your once-straight leg gets shorter, meaning that any force applied to it suddenly moves the whole structure faster through space. It’s the same principle ice skaters use when they pull their arms and legs in and magically start spinning at 300 rpm.
This increase in velocity is stored as elastic tension in your hips; when released, this turns your femur into a trebuchet, propelling the pelvis forward.

A trebuchet. Also, the only response necessary if someone asks: “what’s so cool about physics, anyway?”
Blah blah physics and bones and stuff: you’re reading this because your knees hurt, not because you’re looking for a science fair project.
Pain in the knees is typically associated with a force acting on the knee, rather than passing through it, like it’s supposed to. Because the knee is situated between two joints, this means that one of those joints is doing a poor job of receiving the force exiting the knee and reacting accordingly. The video below is an exercise for identifying and correcting that relationship.
There are two things you need to know:
1) Your dominant leg and non-dominant leg behave differently—and, barring a few rare exceptions, behave similarly to everyone else’s dominant and non-dominant legs. (Roughly 70-90% of you prefer your right leg.) Before watching the video below, identify your dominant leg by kicking a football (or imagining kicking a football) and noting which leg feels most natural.
2) Certain types of footwear—in particular footwear with “arch support” or some kind of orthotic—may prevent this from working properly. Unless under specific, recent advice from a doctor to the contrary, take your shoes off when you do this.
You may notice that I didn’t show the exercise in reverse, with the dominant leg in back. Of course, feel free to play with that position, but, in my experience, building up the necessary strength and awareness happens best in the format presented. Because the goal of the exercise is an internal relationship within the leg, symmetry across the two sides is not necessary.
Think of this as an experiment rather than an exercise regimen: repeat it frequently but without intensity. Performing the movements described will give you a better feeling for what muscles you’re not using when it comes time to fire up those knees. As you become more aware where strength is lacking, try performing simple daily activities like climbing stairs, kneeling down, jumping and squatting with an emphasis on the movements and muscles you now know aren’t doing their fair share.
Have fun and let me know how it goes in the comments!
Leah Faw
Hey Kevin! Leah (formerly of Portland, late of Berkeley/Oakland) here! I followed this post from Izarra’s fb page and have been doing a couple reps of these a day when I have a sec. I’m on a new “grad school is too much sitting how do I get more activity into my life?” kick. Its mostly awesome – I’ve jury-rigged a standing desk, got a pedometer and am enjoying competing with myself, and have begun frequenting classes I enjoy! – but the one issue I’m having is joint pain. Knees aren’t too bad, but my ankles are really hurting! Mostly my non-dominant (left) ankle. It feels tight/swollen, almost stiff to the point of not being able to bend it some mornings. Its not acutely painful, but dully so. Can you, through the magic of the internets, recommend anything to help? THANKS SO MUCH!
KevinMoore
Hi Leah! Could we set up a Skype meeting to talk about this? I have some recommendations that might help.
Leah Faw
Kevin, that would be so rad! Are you guys… 15 ahead? Will you send me an email with some times that work for you and I’ll find one that works? THANKS!
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[…] If you are a knee pain sufferer, the more you know about knees, the better. So here’s a helpful article describing how knees work and how to make them work better. […]
Gergő
Thank you!! My knees don’t hurt but this thought is so cool!
LeslieSilvestrini
I’m having difficulty translating this into common activities. Would appreciate video showing how this works going up/down stairs. Thanks!
KevinMoore
Can do, Leslie. Stay tuned.
June
That was beyond helpful. You make it easy to do with this visual. Thanks.