Here we go on another journey exploring some of the usefulness of Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs); a name given by the Functional Range Systems camp that appreciates the importance of joint health and its potential to influence stellar movements. If you’re unfamiliar with CARs, please check out this previously documented digest to better acquaint yourself with what it is.
In previous digests, we took a glimpse on how CARs can be used for shoulder issues; now, we are going to dive into using CARs for knees complaints. In practice, I’ve come to realize that a lot of knee issues have been a result of something else above or below going haywire, whether it’s the hips that aren’t absorbing load efficiently and effectively, or the ankles lacking the proper mobility. If one of these neighboring structures aren’t conditioned to accept the stresses placed on it, then the poor knees have to take the load and try to accommodate these shortcomings. This additional stress adds insult, which can lead to eventual injuries.
In my own clinical journey, if I treated the femoroacetabular (hip) and talocrural/subatalar (ankle) joints without complete resolution, then that’s when I focused more on the tibiofemoral (knee) joint itself being a suspect versus a victim. I always inform patients that I want to look for the root cause versus just treating the symptoms; otherwise I can treat all day long, but the knee issue will always come back.
With this thought in mind, below are 3 Controlled Articular Rotations videos that I think are essential to assessing the necessary movement inventory, improving knee health, and minimizing risk for injuries.
#1 FEMOROACETABULAR CARs
#2 TALOCRURAL/SUBTALAR CARs
#3 TIBIOFEMORAL CARs
Side note: Resolving knee complaints may not only take careful assessment of the femoroacetabular, talocrural/subtalar, and tibiofemoral joints, but may also need attention towards the lumbosacral region and proximal/distal tibiofibular joints.
Thanks for being curious and taking the time to read this! Hope it added value to your life and equips you to become better than you were yesterday!
Dr. Joe Jaime, DC, DACBSP®, ATC, CSCS®, FRC®ms, CES