Training exercises for the legs are actively performed for improving sport performance but are not actually performed according to individual physical characteristics. In this study, we examined X-rays of subjects with different knee alignments to elucidate whether carrying a barbell equivalent to body weight on the shoulder while changing stance width alters the femorotibial angle (FTA). Methods: The study subjects were 12 healthy men (6 with normal knees and 6 with genu varum) with no previous medical history of the knee. A total of 8 X-ray images of the left knee were taken for each subject either under body-weight load alone or with barbell load at each stance width in the following order: body weight alone at 50% shoulder-width stance, with barbell load at 50% stance, body weight at 100% stance, with load at 100% stance, body weight at 150% stance, with load at 150% stance, body weight at 200% stance, and with load at 200% stance. FTA, the parameter used for evaluating knee alignment, was measured on images taken at each trial. Results: Subjects with normal knees and genu varum showed a significantly higher FTA value under a condition of weight load than under body weight alone at 200% stance. Conclusions: The absence of significant changes in FTA at 150% stance with weight load in both subject groups suggests that this stance width is ideal, having the least influence on the medial part of the knee joint. The sumo-style deadlift is an important training exercise which is performed at a stance width approximately 200% of the shoulder width and therefore this training exercise should be performed with the above-mentioned risks in mind.
Akitoshi Sogabe (Sat,) studied this question.