Bringing Biomechanics Home: How MAI Motion Tracks Sit-to-Stand and Squat Tests to Support Knee Health

Introduction

More people than ever want easy, reliable ways to keep tabs on their knee health—without having to visit a specialist lab. MAI Motion meets this growing demand with a markerless motion-capture system that brings advanced biomechanical analysis right into clinics and the home. Two everyday movements, the sit-to-stand and the squat, play a crucial role in checking knee strength , stability, and overall function. These simple exercises reveal important information about your knees, helping prevent injury and guide recovery. In this article, we’ll explore how MAI Motion measures these movements, aiding in early detection, ongoing monitoring, and truly personalised care.

Understanding the Sit-to-Stand Test with MAI Motion

The sit-to-stand test is a classic way to assess lower body strength and balance, as it tracks your movement through four stages: leaning forward, pushing off the chair, straightening up, and standing still. Recent research (Wen et al. 2025) found that performing just three repetitions yields as much useful data as the usual five, making the test quicker and more accessible. MAI Motion automatically tracks angles at key joints—knee, hip, and ankle—and measures the smoothness and range of each movement. This efficient three-rep approach makes assessments easier, especially for older adults or those with limited mobility, without sacrificing reliability. Clinicians get the data they need to gauge fall risk and muscle strength, while patients benefit from a less demanding experience.

Assessing Squat Mechanics: Precision and Insights

The squat is a more complex movement, calling on several joints and muscles to keep the knees stable and aligned. Recent studies (Armstrong et al. 2024) highlight two main indicators of good squat form: the smoothness of knee bending and the total range of motion achieved. MAI Motion tracks how quickly and evenly each joint moves, making it possible to spot subtle differences that might signal early knee issues. By focusing on these details, the system gives healthcare professionals a clearer picture of movement quality and helps them tailor treatment or exercise plans to each person’s needs.

Interpreting Biomechanical Data for Knee Health

MAI Motion delivers several key metrics: a smoothness index to show how fluid the movements are, range of motion for joint flexibility, coefficient of variation (CV) for consistency across repetitions, and changes in mean values over time to track progress. For example, a decline in smoothness during sit-to-stand tests can point to early osteoarthritis —even before pain or stiffness are felt. Research also confirms that three repetitions are less tiring than five, making regular assessments more practical. When clinicians review results, a CV below 10% is ideal, with up to 20% still considered acceptable. Regularly monitoring these values during sit-to-stand and squat tests helps detect early changes, allowing for prompt interventions and better outcomes.

Practical Integration into Daily Routines

Incorporating MAI Motion into everyday life is straightforward with a few preparation steps. Make sure your camera captures your entire lower body, and opt for comfortable clothes that don't restrict your movements. For effective monitoring, weekly or monthly assessments—three sit-to-stand and three squats each time—provide dependable insights without causing fatigue. Safety is key: use a sturdy chair of the right height for the sit-to-stand assessment, squat to a safe depth, and ensure supervision if balance is an issue. MAI Motion ’s dashboard makes it easy to track and share progress with your clinician, so you can celebrate improvements or catch any early warning signs together.

Long-Term Benefits and Future Directions

Regular use of MAI Motion supports proactive knee care, moving from simply reacting to symptoms toward preventing problems before they start. Future updates may include AI-powered alerts, connections to telehealth platforms, and integration with wearable devices for comprehensive care. Markerless motion capture like this is less invasive, better suited to smaller clinics or homes, and captures natural movements without using cumbersome markers. Research is also underway to add new biomarkers—like tests for core stability—or even predict injuries before they happen. With these advances, MAI Motion empowers users and clinicians to take control of knee health through clear, actionable data.

Conclusion

MAI Motion transforms two everyday movements—the sit-to-stand and the squat—into powerful digital health checks for your knees. By making assessments easier and delivering objective results, it enables earlier detection and more personalised care for everyone. As MAI Motion is adopted in clinics, physiotherapy practices, and even home rehab programs, the future of knee health is being reshaped into a proactive, precision-driven model. Accessible motion analysis is making it easier to care for our knees—and that future has already arrived.