Andrew Khoury is a student at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina pursuing a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. A specific focus of South Carolina’s Andrew Khoury is biomechanics, which involves understanding principles specific to various body systems, from the ankles to the upper limbs.
The lower limbs present a complex system, with the foot and ankle alone made up of 33 joints and 26 bones. These are held together by in excess of 100 ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Together, they function as a rigid structure when it comes to bearing weight. They transition to acting as a flexible structure when uneven terrain is traversed or a jump is attempted.
Ankle and foot biomechanics are linked with gait, which defines how body segments work together to enable walking on two feet. One critical force at work in the knee is the Q angle, which centers on the patellofemoral joint. The vector created by the pull of the patellar tendon and quadriceps femoris muscle results in a lateral pull being placed on the patella. This allows a range of stable motion that enables the foot and ankle to move forward and take a supported step.
