10-15-2019, 05:02 PM
(10-15-2019, 03:43 PM)fifteenth Wrote: What is knee valgus, Precious?
I didn't know if you're actually asking but knee valgus is a term which describes the angle that is formed when the knee is bent toward the midline of your body, while your lower leg is bent away. It's a genetic deformity found usually in children while they're growing, but can be caused in adults when they suffer a traumatic knee injury. Though you need the gene's in the first place to develop it.
The deformity can cause an abnormal gait, extra pressure on joints and can cause knee arthritis quite early in life. It can be corrected with surgery, but in my own opinion it's a specialized surgery and you better trust that surgeon who's doing it.
Usually physical therapy can improve the condition (depending on the severity of the valgus) moderately with appropriate stretches/exercises.
I think KP has always had this though (I didn't watch many NYK games, but I always remember him having an awkward gait) and it's probably a factor into why he tore his ACL in the first place if he did.
If he developed this after his injury, then it's pretty hopeful that it CAN improve with time and with PT. As to whether this should be a cause for injury concern, I don't think it's that big of a deal. Despite what the original tweet said, I don't think that's a severe valgus at all, but it isn't insignificant. And just because you have a valgus doesn't mean you're doomed to re-injure a knee. For example Kevin Durant has a pretty significant knee valgus on all of his shots, like his free throw posture, and he's never had a knee injury (though he did have a foot injury and valgus/varus posture can increase injury risk in knees, and feet).
14x All-Star, 12x all-NBA, 1x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 1 NBA Championship: Dirk Nowitzki, the man, the myth, the legend.