Which mobility issue is described as contributing to knee valgus during overhead deep squats (ODS)?

• A. Limited hip mobility
• B. Thoracic rigidity
• C. Lumbar stiffness
• D. Ankle dorsiflexion restriction causing knee valgus in ODS

Answer: (D)

The crucial idea here is that enough ankle dorsiflexion is needed to allow the tibia to move forward as you descend in an overhead deep squat. When ankle dorsiflexion is limited, the ankle can’t accommodate that forward shimming of the shin, so the body compensates by letting the knee cave inward to reach depth and keep the bar over the midline. In overhead squats, this compensation shows up as knee valgus because the knee tracks medially to balance and maintain the bar position and torso upright.

In practice, this means restoring ankle dorsiflexion mobility can reduce the knee valgus you see during the movement. If the ankle is stiff, you’ll observe the knee collapsing inward as a common compensatory pattern.