EPISODE · Aug 3, 2026 · 8 MIN
Knee Pain? TKE (terminal knee extension) & Dorsiflexion screens
from The Show Up Fitness Podcast · host chris hitchko
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Knee pain that lingers at a low hum can be maddening, especially for runners who feel “mostly fine” until mileage adds up. We walk through a simple, trainer friendly screen for terminal knee extension (TKE) that takes minutes and often exposes a tiny side to side gap you can’t afford to ignore. Two to five degrees sounds small, but it can change how the knee loads with every step, rep, and landing.From there, we lay out a clean decision tree: if TKE is limited, we talk daily practice, smart progressions, and how to apply just enough pressure without turning it into a painful battle. If both knees check out, we pivot to ankle dorsiflexion using the wall test (shoes off) and explain why limited ankle mobility can push stress upstream into the knee, especially in running. You’ll also hear how to approach soft tissue work and foam rolling in a way that actually reduces sensitivity and makes new range of motion “stick.”Finally, we test what many programs ignore: calf stability and local muscular endurance. We break down the 25 rep single leg calf raise benchmark, what “clean reps” really look like, and how to build a simple weekly calf plan that supports stronger mechanics over time. We also connect the dots anatomically by revisiting the gastrocnemius and why it matters for both the ankle and the knee.If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with a trainer or running buddy, and leave a review telling us which test you’re trying first.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
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Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Knee pain that lingers at a low hum can be maddening, especially for runners who feel “mostly fine” until mileage adds up. We walk through a simple, trainer friendly screen for terminal knee extension (TKE) that takes minutes and often exposes a tiny side to side gap you can’t afford to ignore. Two to five degrees sounds small, but it can change how the knee loads with every step, rep, and landing. From there, we lay out a cl...
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Knee Pain? TKE (terminal knee extension) & Dorsiflexion screens
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