Kniezone

Kniezone is a term used in biomechanics and sports medicine to describe a functional framework for understanding knee function in terms of discrete zones of load, motion, and tissue demand. The term derives from Knie, the German word for knee, and zone, and it emphasizes the knee as a segmented system in which different regions dominate movement and load at different ranges of motion.

Within Kniezone, researchers describe three general zones that correspond to typical mechanical states during movement: an anterior zone, centered on the extensor mechanism and patellofemoral articulation during early flexion and loaded extension; a central zone, where tibiofemoral contact and joint congruence govern mid-range flexion; and a posterior zone, where posterior elements, including cruciate ligaments and hamstrings, influence stability in deeper flexion.

Applications of the Kniezone concept include guiding rehabilitation after knee injuries such as ACL or patellofemoral pain, informing neuromuscular training programs, assisting brace or prosthesis design, and helping tailor surgical planning to individual loading patterns.

The Kniezone framework emerged in biomechanics literature during the 2010s as a descriptive model to supplement traditional kinematic and kinetic analyses. It is not universally standardized; zone boundaries and practical definitions vary across studies and imaging modalities, and the approach relies on indirect measurements of tissue demand.

Limitations include subject-specific variability and a lack of consensus on objective thresholds. Nonetheless, Kniezone provides a concise lens for discussing knee function across activities and can support interdisciplinary communication among clinicians, trainers, and researchers.