genu recurvatum

Introduction

hyperextension of the knee (knee bent backward) with forward curvature of the lower leg

Etiology

• most commonly acquired condition secondary to changes of the distal skeletal joint alignments & compensatory movement patterns
• may be caused by an abnormal fetal position inside the womb
• Osgood-Schlatter disease

Epidemiology

• commonly acquired deformity found in many rehabilitation populations

Pathology

• affects energy-efficient ambulation
• the thigh & lower limb segments move posteriorly in direct opposition to the anterior advancement of the proximal body mass over the fixed distal base of support

Notes

• may be associated with a rare birth disorder characterized by
  • painful menstruation
  • knees bent back
  • a uterus that is tilted backwards (retroverted)

More general terms

• genu
• hyperextension
• gait ataxia