Is Squatting bad for your knees?
Learn the truth about squatting
No, squats are not bad for your knees when performed with proper form and technique.
In fact, squats can strengthen the muscles and tissues around the knee, which can help prevent and recover from knee injuries
Here are some tips for squatting safely:
- Form:
Ensure your knees are aligned with your toes and that you aren't experiencing pain. - Start light:
Use a small amount of weight or just the bar itself to master your form. - Build up:
Once you've mastered your form, you can build up the weight.
Stop at pain:
Stop squatting when you feel muscle pain. However, deep knee bending can be uncomfortable or painful for people with certain conditions, such as knee osteoarthritis, runner's knee, or meniscus tears.
If you're still having issues squatting after working on form, you can try squat alternatives like sit-to-stands and glute bridges.
You should see a doctor if you experience intense and unexpected knee pain when squatting, or if the pain has advanced from minor twinges to a more dramatic, stabbing pain.
Everyone squats differently; everyone has different mobility and strength of their hips, knees, and ankles: so there is not one correct way to squat, or to treat knee pain with squatting: you need a personalized approach