The Biomechanical Fallacy of Maximal Abduction: Why "Knees Out" Induces Lateral Compartment Pathology and Reduces Squat Depth

For over a decade, the cue "knees out" (maximal hip abduction and external rotation) has been the dominant corrective strategy to prevent dynamic knee valgus. However, emerging data suggests this cue has resulted in an industry-wide overcorrection. From 2023 to 2025, MMSx Authority analyzed 870 subjects using the MMSx-SCAN™ protocol. The data indicates that forced excessive abduction creates pathological varus torque, lateral patellofemoral compression, and a loss of foot stability. This position paper presents evidence that while preventing valgus is critical, the "knees out" strategy reduces squat depth by an average of 6.4 cm and increases joint reaction forces in 87% of lifters. We introduce the Biomechanical Power Integration Technique (BPIT) and the "5-Line Principle" as the new Gold Standard for neutral tracking, demonstrating a restoration of depth and reduction in pain markers across the study cohort. Keywords: Dynamic Knee Valgus, Pathological Varus, Patellofemoral Pain, Squat Biomechanics, BPIT Principle, MMSx-SCAN.