Tight hamstrings - knee instability

Hi everybody, i am studying physiotherapy and have to work on an assignement about hypertonic, short hamstrings (antagonistic) which lead to knee instability.
Could somebody give me advice about the medical diagnose, PT diagnose, PT strategy, treatment plan, evaluation, etc.
Thanx in advance!
;) Babs

Hi Babs,

I have found that tight hamstrings are common with knee pain patients, particlarly patello-femoral pain. I feel it is because they don't allow the knee to freely move under load, i.e, run, squat lunge, bike ride etc. hence you end up with excessive compression forces at the PFJ. I find this often goes hand in hand with tight posterior neural structures down the whole leg. I will use the SLR test +/-ankle dorsiflexion to assess and if postive I will assess the lumbar spine and even the thoracic spine as the possible reason why the hams and neural structures are tight. I will inevitable mobilise lumbar and thoracic extension +/- rotation towards the side of pain (not away). Then re-assess SLR and asterixs from rest of assessment e.g. single leg squat, walk, run, stairs.

Hope this helps, Angel:)