What Are The Risks Of Hyperextending The Knees In Dandasana?

Transcript Of: What Are The Risks Of Hyperextending The Knees In Dandasana

Hey everybody! Welcome to this month’s question of the month. And of course you know you can submit your own: yoganatomy.com/myquestion. And this month’s question is, well, I’ve never gotten a question this way. It’s not really a question. It’s a series of statements that Nelson wants me to fill in about hyperextending the knees in dandasana. I’ll read them to you.

The Question:

In dandasana (staff pose) [DK: I assume this is seated staff pose] hyperextension of the knees:
a) is unlikely because…
b) is not a significant risk because…
c) risks straining the ACLs because…
d) risks straining the MCLs because…
I would appreciate it if you would be so kind as to answer/complete the sentences.
Thank you!
Nelson

The Answer:

It feels a little controlling to have you set up the sentence and then have me answer it that way, but I’ll play your game with you.

So, hyperextending the knees in dandasana is a) unlikely because… The posture itself isn’t going to cause hyperextension, so it’s unlikely because your hyperextension in your knees is based on your anatomy. It’s not based on the posture in this case.

b) Hyperextending the knees in dandasana is not a significant risk because… Well, in this pose, you’re not bearing weight. You’re seated on the floor. Your legs are just out in front of you. There’s not really any risk in injuring your knees if they’re hyperextended when you’re sitting on the floor. It could perpetuate that pattern if there’s a muscular component to it, but other than that there’s no direct risk.

c) Hyperextending the knees in dandasana risks straining the ACLs because… There’s only one though, the ACL. It doesn’t, because the ACL doesn’t restrict hyperextension of the knee, so it [hyperextension] is not going to do anything to the ACL. The PCL, however, does ultimately – it’s kind of like that – well it’s one of the structures that could restrict hyperextension of the knees. So the PCL potentially could be affected, but again, in this posture, there’s no weight bearing going on, so the amount of stress and tension there is not going to be great.

d) Hyperextending the knees in dandasana risks straining the MCLs because… Same answer. You’re seated. Hyperextension doesn’t generally affect the MCL. I mean you could have pain on the inside of your knee for other reasons, but I don’t think being in dandasana and hyperextension of the knees is going to do anything to the MCL either.

Ok, I think that answered or completed all of your sentences, Nelson. Thanks for throwing me a curveball there. I appreciate it. If anybody else has a curveball they want to throw my way, go to yoganatomy.com/myquestion and I’ll do my best to get it answered for you.