The Use of Elastic Resistance Bands to Reduce Dynamic Knee Valgus in Squat-Based Movements: A Narrative Review.
Davis A Forman, Shahab Alizadeh, Duane C Button and 1 others
PMID 37795322WHAT IT FOUND
Elastic bands around the thighs increased hip muscle activity during squats, but they did not reduce inward knee movement during the squat.
Lighter bands may help train the muscles; stronger bands can increase inward knee movement. No chronic evidence shows correction.
Key findings
01An elastic band around the thighs increased lower-limb muscle activity in most reviewed studies, including five studies that reported greater gluteus maximus activity.
02The same evidence did not show an acute reduction in knee valgus; bands either had no effect or increased inward knee movement.
03Stronger bands were associated with more muscle activity but also more medial knee collapse, whereas lighter bands could increase activity without a clear change in inward knee movement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only nine original studies were reviewed, and they used different exercises, loads, band positions, and band resistance units. No study pre-screened participants for medial knee collapse, so many may not have had the movement fault the bands were meant to correct. All tested bands in single sessions, so the review cannot show whether chronic use changes alignment or reduces injury risk. Knee-width-index is a limited surrogate for valgus and can be affected by stance width. There is no agreed threshold for which knee valgus magnitude is risky, so small increases cannot be judged clinically.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests and reported no funding sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that elastic bands are a proven way to correct knee valgus. The reviewed studies measured single sessions, did not pre-screen people with valgus, and showed no acute reduction. Stronger bands may increase inward knee movement.