284 | Why Hamstring Co-Activation Might Be Blocking Your Knee Extension

In this episode, we break down why your knee extension might feel stuck after ACL surgery, and it is not about weakness or effort. We walk through arthrogenic muscle inhibition, a new EMG study showing how the brain co-activates the hamstrings to protect the knee, and the exact assessment and hamstring fatiguing drills to test if that protecting is what is holding back your extension. If you are an ACL athlete stuck trying to get extension back or a clinician managing this exact case, this episode gives you a new angle to add to what you are already doing.

Knee Extension Assessment + Exercise

Early Neuromuscular and Co-activation Patterns After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction In Males: A Case-control Exploratory Feasibility Study - Ricupito 2026

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