Popliteus

This course describes the anatomy and integrated function of the popliteus muscle. This muscle originates on the lateral femoral condyle and inserts on the posterior surface of the tibia (behind the knee), underneath the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and biceps femoris tendon. The popliteus muscle is innervated by the tibial nerve. Interesting fact, the popliteus is one of the only muscles to exist inside and outside of a synovial joint capsule, with the muscle lying partially within the knee capsule and the popliteus tendon inserting outside of the knee capsule.

The popliteus muscle crosses the tibiofemoral joint (knee joint) and contributes to tibial internal rotation (medial rotation), femoral external rotation in a closed chain, and potentially knee flexion. It is also believed that the internal rotation force generated by the popliteus muscle and popliteus tendon play an essential role in “unlocking the knee” following the “screw home mechanism” that locks the knee joint during full extension. This course also describes the role of the popliteus muscle in tibiofemoral (knee) arthrokinematics, fascial integration, postural dysfunction, and subsystem integration.

Sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.) must be aware of the integrated function of the popliteus for the detailed analysis of human movement, and the development of sophisticated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions. Further, this course is essential knowledge for future courses discussing injury prevention and physical rehabilitation (e.g. popliteus strain, popliteus injury, popliteus tendinitis, knee pain, knee tendinitis, muscle strains, lateral meniscus tear, scar tissue development), the synergistic function of knee muscles (e.g. the contribution of the popliteus, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and medial gastrocnemius muscles to medial rotation of the knee, and the effect altered knee mechanics can have on low back pain), and popliteus specific exercises and techniques (e.g. the combination of hip abduction, tibial medial rotation, and knee flexion during tibial internal rotator activation).

Brookbush Institute’s most recommended techniques for the Popliteus (see videos below):

• Mobilization: Self-Administered Knee Mobilization
• Activation: Tibial Internal Rotator Activation

Caption: Location of the popliteus muscle in the knee joint