Q: I don’t have the turnout I wish I had. I’m somewhat knock-kneed and I’m wondering if this is affecting my rotation.

A: Being knock-kneed does not determine the amount of turnout you have at the hip, but it will influence how easily you can stand in fifth and third positions. Both positions are a little bit harder when you have knock-knee, and you won’t be able to cross over as well.

The first thing I want you to do is test your turnout by lying on your stomach with your legs straight. Bend your right knee 90 degrees, then carefully move your right foot over the back of your left knee—see how far you can go without your hips moving away from the floor. Then try it on the other side. This will test for how much passive turnout you have.

After determining what your turnout currently is in a static position, you can then go to work to strengthen and stretch the muscles in order to maximize usage and to encourage more range. Don’t crank your turnout. Doing so increases the potential for knee injuries.