My knees bend backwards when I stand. Is that normal?

Why some knees go past straight

Most knees stop at straight or a few degrees beyond. In people with lax ligaments, the knee can extend further, so when they stand and relax, it settles backwards and looks curved. It usually affects both knees equally and has been there since childhood.

It is different if only one knee has started to bend backwards after an injury. That can mean damage to ligaments at the back of the knee, such as the posterolateral corner or the PCL, and needs an examination.

Problems it can cause

• Aching behind the knee after standing at prayer, in queues or at work
• Pain at the front of the knee from the fat pad being pinched when the knee locks back
• Fatigue in the thighs and calves
• A feeling of instability, especially on uneven ground
• Strain on the ACL during landing in some sports

How to manage it

Practise standing with the knees very slightly bent, sometimes called soft knees, with weight spread evenly through the feet. It feels strange at first but becomes automatic with practice. A mirror or a phone video helps.

Physiotherapy focuses on hamstring, calf and hip strength, and on control in the last part of straightening. Exercises like slow step-downs, wall squats to a controlled stop and single-leg balance are commonly used. In gym work, avoid snapping the knees straight at the top of leg presses and squats.

When to have it checked in Doha

Arrange a review if only one knee bends backwards, if it began after a fall or sports injury, if the knee gives way, or if pain persists despite exercises. At Aman Hospital Dr. Gelber measures the hyperextension, compares both sides, tests the ligaments and arranges an MRI if an injury is suspected.