Final answer:
During an overhead squat assessment, knee valgus (knees caving in) indicates overactivity in muscles such as the adductor complex, tensor fasciae latae, and gluteus medius.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the knees cave in (knee valgus) during an overhead squat assessment, it means that the muscles responsible for stabilizing the knee are not functioning properly. One possible overactive muscle in this case is the adductor complex, which includes the adductor magnus, adductor longus, and adductor brevis muscles. These muscles are located on the inner side of the thigh and can cause the knees to cave in when they are overactive.
Other possible overactive muscles can include the tensor fasciae latae and the gluteus medius. The tensor fasciae latae is a hip flexor muscle that attaches to the iliotibial band and can pull the knees inward when it is tight. The gluteus medius, a hip abductor muscle, can also be overactive and contribute to knee valgus.
It is important to strengthen the underactive muscles, such as the gluteus maximus and the hip external rotators, to correct knee valgus and improve overall movement patterns.