ATF squats = acute pain in inner knee

[Madd Hatter]

Last week I discovered the joy of ass-to-floor squats and life was good. But naturally, on my 2nd squat day since, I've discovered something else. The joy of being at the bottom of your rep with your low-rep max on your back when pain hits the inside of your knee like a lightning bolt. Did I say joy, because I mean hell. I don't even know how I made it back up. I've been doing my squats shoulder-width or slightly wider, toes pointed outwards. With this pain today, I adjusted by moving my legs to less than shoulder width, toes pointed straight. This makes ATF impossible, and even parallel becomes a pain in the ass. Even with less/no weight, it still hurts when I go low. What can I do? I really don't want to lose the benefit of squatting. I know not going AT LEAST parallel is a frickin waste.

 

[b fold the truth]

When you move your feet in and keep your toes straight...is it still too painful to go deep?

B True

 

[Madd Hatter]

I don't know, because balance-wise, I just can't go that low (below parallel) with my legs that close together. When I get to what I at least think is parallel, the pain's not there, no. But I think it's right around the corner, if I don't get my ass back up, it's going to come.

 

[b fold the truth]

If you have knee problems...I highly suggest box squats. I have not had any knee problems since I have switched to them...NONE.

They might be a good variation for you to try too...

B True

 

[chknmn1]

b fold-

just curious, can you explain the box squat? the only squats i know are the front and traditional ones.



Be smart...listen to your body, it's your only reliable source.

 

[Madd Hatter]

Hell, I think I can handle this one...

they're regular squats, only you put a box behind you and you sit at the bottom of your rep. Ideally the box will be just below parallel for you. I'm all for trying them but...

...my gym doesn't have boxes (can't imagine any do). So WTF, do you guys (who work in public gyms) haul in your own box? I can just see the stares and snickers I'd elicit doing that "Yeah, here's my ID, I'm a member. And this here is my box". One of the benches would leave me JUST above parallel, doh.

 

[b fold the truth]

Night Fly has her own box...till she loaned it to a buddy of mine. Yeah...take it in the gym with you if you want to use it...

Another main difference is that you normally squat wider and your shins should be perfectly straight up and down when you squat...

B True