Knee Pain, ACL Risk & the Movement Patterns Behind the Problem

Knee pain is one of the most common issues in sports, fitness, rehab, and everyday life — but the knee is rarely the only place to look. In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton break down why knee pain is often driven by what is happening above and below the joint. From ankle dorsiflexion and foot control to hip mobility, core stability, tone, alignment, and movement strategy, this conversation takes a deeper look at the systems that influence how the knee behaves. They discuss common knee issues in youth athletes, female athletes, ACL risk, patellar tracking, quad dominance, total knee replacement, and the importance of using movement screens to better understand the difference between symptoms and underlying dysfunction. The key message: before assuming the knee needs more strength, more quad work, or more isolated treatment, we need to ask better questions. Is the ankle moving well? Is the hip doing its job? Is the core providing stability? Is the person using tone, compensation, or alignment strategies that keep irritating the knee? Whether you work with athletes, active adults, rehab patients, or people trying to stay functional as they age, this episode offers a practical framework for looking at knee pain through a functional movement lens. Learn more about Functional Movement Systems: https://www.functionalmovement.com/ Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter**)** Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter