Ok, so my knees are 100x better now. I've been doing top 1/3rd of leg extrensions with very low weight, high reps, stay at top for 3 seconds for a while now. Lots of stretching. Lot's of hamstring curls. So I decided to try squats again. Body weight, of course. No pain. Awesome. So I do a few, then take a 25lb plate over my head and do a few more. Cool. I guess I can start working my legs again.

But, I did notice that when I was getting to the bottom of the squat (I do them with leg's spread about shoulder width, only to 90º. I can feel a LOT more pressure on my knees when I try to go ass to grass, so I'll stick to these for now) my lower back was arching and in pain from squeezing hard to try and stay arched. So, my question is, what kinds of stretches can I do to do better squats? Or should I just do body weight squats every day until it stretches out by itself? Sorry if I'm rambling, it's late and I'm tired. :P

Personally, I like bodyweight squats better than weighted squats, but I'm already a pretty big guy.

#1) What'd you do to your knees???

#2) I'm the opposite with squats... If I do the "sit on the toilet" squat, I feel like my knees are going to pop, but when I do a "deck" squat, I feel fine all the way through...

#3) Where do you feel the pulling in the muscle indicating inflexibility?

1) I hurt my knees doing "Ok, you just go down and then back up" squats. Disaster waiting to happen, but I just did not know any better at the time. The doctor said I should just stop bending my knees for the rest of my life, so he can go **** himself. I mean, he LITERALLY said "maybe... when you're like 30... you can run a marathon or something. But not for a long time" I'm 19. He said it's "patello-femoral syndrome" where my knee's aren't aligned right. That could be why I need to do "sit on toilet squats" instead of full squats.

3) It's the lower to mid back range where I feel tension, also my ass and my hams a bit. Which is weird because I can almost put each leg over my head individually. I used to be able to do it all the way. I think I can also feel it a bit in my groin area.

Garbanzo: I only weigh 160lbs. I won't get much of a workout doing body weight squats. :(

Are you wearing a belt whilst squatting? That can help a lot with lumbar support, which from your post sounds like you are lacking.

No. Belts are for pansies. Tell me how to get my lumbar deely stronger, instead.

I had knee problems from running on concrete too much (not the same, I know) and doing hindu squats for a couple of months was pretty theraputic to the cause. Might wanna give it a shot, and do some lighter weights until you feel stronger.

1) I hurt my knees doing "Ok, you just go down and then back up" squats. Disaster waiting to happen, but I just did not know any better at the time. The doctor said I should just stop bending my knees for the rest of my life, so he can go **** himself. I mean, he LITERALLY said "maybe... when you're like 30... you can run a marathon or something. But not for a long time" I'm 19. He said it's "patello-femoral syndrome" where my knee's aren't aligned right. That could be why I need to do "sit on toilet squats" instead of full squats.


How serious is this knee injury? I'm not an expert on sports medicine, but my left knee was most likely out of alignment briefly after a power clean workout. Every time I would extend it, it would crack, and when I went below parallel it hurt somewhat. I did myofascial release on the foam roller, some leg extensions, then iced it, and the pain was mostly gone in time for my front squat routine. It was still clicking, but after the front squats, the clicking was gone.

I can't imagine it was too serious. No swelling and I could walk alright. I still get pain if I bend my knees for too long (like when I'm sitting or driving), but not nearly the same as what it was when it first happened, which wasn't so bad in the first place. My boss had ACL surgery when he got it busted, because he tried to hip throw a guy and the guy kicked him in the knee. It only took him 2 years to be 100% again. I did not need surgery or ANYTHING like that, so I don't see why I shouldn't heal faster.

Yes, I was doing some hindu squats, too. They are awesome.

Garbanzo: I only weigh 160lbs. I won't get much of a workout doing body weight squats. :(


Bullshit you won't.

Do 150 straight Hindu Squats followed by 30 Hindu Jumper Squats. That should take no longer that 10 minutes and I guarentee it's the best workout you've ever had.

Let's ignore the fact that doing 150 of anything trains your endurance more than strength and dive right into jumper squats.

I still have weak knees. Guess what jumper squats do? Put and ASSLOAD of pressure on them.

Your mistaken.

Strength is not just how much force you can exert once or twice, it's also how long you can sustain that force for.

Cranking out Hindu squats (bodyweight squats) in high numbers DOES build strength. Trust me on this I know from my own experiance. I can do 180 Hindu squats followed by 20 Hindu jumper squats.

It took me some time to reach that level. But when I did I started testing myself on one-legged squats. Guess what happend ? I could do four one legged squats, each leg. Now thats something I could never do before when I was hitting the weights hard. I just couldn't believe it. As for fitness and stamina - I've never felt better. Give it a go. You'd be suprised Poop Loops, I know I was.

I have plates, a bar, and a squat rack. I want to USE it.

Also, Wing Chun works. I know from my own experience.

I have plates, a bar, and a squat rack. I want to USE it.

Also, Wing Chun works. I know from my own experience.I REALLY hate to agree with Hannibal, but I like Hindu squats a lot. They've never really hurt my knees, but I don't have bruised undersides of my patella, or whatever bizarre condition you had. FREAK. :5magnify:

Yes, I was doing some hindu squats, too. They are awesome.

...

I HAVE been doing hindu squats, but if I have a bar and plates and squat rack, why not do weighted squats instead?

Personally I prefer bodyweight exercises. But thats just what I like.

As for Wing Chun, lets just stick to the topic on hand okay ?