Glossary · Anatomy & Technique
Aesthetically prized, mechanically demanding
Knee hyperextension, medically known as genu recurvatum, refers to the knee joint extending beyond neutral extension. It can be constitutional, meaning present from birth, or develop or intensify through repeated, forced locking of the knee.
In classical ballet, a hyperextended knee is often considered part of a desired, long leg line. A study of dancers and non-dancers aged 8 to 16 found significantly greater range of motion in several joints among dancers, including knee extension. Another study found that dancers with patellofemoral pain, meaning pain around the kneecap, showed pronounced knee hyperextension significantly more often than dancers without symptoms. Mechanically, sustained hyperextension alters the contact between the thigh and shin bones and can increase pressure at the front of the knee as well as cause pain behind the knee. If the knee is habitually locked while standing rather than actively controlled by the surrounding musculature, this load can over time also affect the hip and lower spine.
Because a passively "locked" knee position is associated with pain around the kneecap and behind the knee, CENIT e.V. considers it important to convey the difference between an aesthetically desired line and an actively controlled, muscularly supported knee extension. Learning to stabilize the knee through the surrounding musculature, rather than letting it fall passively into hyperextension, can help prevent knee-related complaints in the long run.
This entry serves to convey knowledge in a prevention context and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or advice. For pain around the kneecap or behind the knee, we recommend consulting professionals experienced in dance medicine – for example through ta.med's referral network or the resources provided by IADMS.
Steinberg N, Hershkovitz I, Peleg S et al. Range of Joint Movement in Female Dancers and Nondancers Aged 8 to 16 Years. Am J Sports Med. 2006;34(9):1487–1495. doi.org/10.1177/0363546505281805 · Steinberg N et al. Ultrasonography findings and physical examination outcomes in dancers with and without patellofemoral pain. Phys Sportsmed. 2018;46(1):48–55. doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2018.1391048
