Knee pain doing squats.

[jerseyboy]

Just yesterday I started getting serious knee pain doing my first warm up set. I couldn't even finish the set at 145lbs. I had to go over to the leg press. I had no problem putting up 4 pain free sets up to 630lbs. I don't know if this is an injury or just old age. Maybe I haven't been stretching enough. I'll give it another try in a couple days after a really good stretch. I know squats are usually a must for growth but what if I can't do them anymore? I've really been trying to work my legs hard but with this knee pain I might be stuck with presses.

[IronReload04]

This is what I would do personally

1. do not lift legs perdiod for 2-3 months

2. When you start back up, make sure your form is perfect.....I think most of the time guys get knee pain is when their form is shitty.......Perfect form consists of going UNDER parellel (take the stress OFF your knees by going parellel), and NOT bouncing the weight at the bottome......squats should be under total contrl through the entire movement, no bouncing at the bottom to lift extra weight or reps.....Nice slow and controlled.....slowly lower the weight, come to a stop, and power back up under control with no bounce......When you squat, try to envision your knees staying as stationary as possible.....Next time your in the gym, watch the next guy squatting, he is probably bouncing and his knee joint is all over the ****en place...

3. I was told by a great powerlifter in person its wise to use knee wraps when squatting over 315


key things
1. go under parellel and take the stress off your knees
2. lower the weight slow and controlled and stop bouncing

my 2 cents

[IronReload04]

squats are one of the safest exercise when executed properly imo

[dece870717]

Knee wraps mannn. They worked so damn good for me. I wouldn't be able to squat without them when I was doing my first cycle and squat strength was jumping up like crazy.

[l2elapse]

make sure when you squat down, your knees do not go pass your feet.

[therecanonlybe1]

wait till ya get to my age and have knee pain all the time and wonder what the hell am i doing?

[jerseyboy]

Well actually I place my feet out in front of me like doing hack squats. I go down to parallel (or at least i think i do) and I follow what's his name's advice (he used to be on the board awhile back but his name eludes me at the moment) by going slowly and without pausing. I do use wraps but not the bandage type. These are black with 3 velcro straps. I think I'm just trying to push too much weight too soon trying to make em grow. I'll give em a rest from squatting and get some real wraps then maybe try again next week.

[Geezy]

I get a sharp pain in my right knee when squatting over 315 and over 800lbs on the leg press, and I got scared about causing injury to myself so I layed off the heavy stuff for about a month and now I make sure that Im thoroughly warmed up before going heavier, and so far so good.

[jerseyboy]

Well yesterday I had a great leg workout. Couldn't find any wraps this week. I stretched really good and then warmed up a little. I started with walking lunges. 80,100,120 lbs. Then did my squats and to my surprise had no pain. I concentrated on my form, went slow and below parallel like Iron said, I paused for a second kinda trying to dip my ass to the floor and then up again. Squeezed out 3 sets but only maxing at 285. Then did some leg presses maxing at 720 lbs. Finished with some leg extensions and a**uction, adduction machines the girls use. Legs still feel good today, a little rubbery but no knee pain. What do you guys think of box squats?

[Geezy]

I dont do them at all because of how ackward they are to me and plus I hate how they break-up the phases (ecc/con).