SQUATS

rbfdac
rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
edited November 9 in Fitness and Exercise
Am I doing them wrong or is it normal for your knees to crack with every bend?
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Replies

  • bkerr30
    bkerr30 Posts: 131 Member
    Not normal. Mine did the same thing before a personal trainer helped me correct my form. I was leaning too far forward where my knees passed my toes. Also make sure you're driving up through your heels. If you workout at a gym I would highly recommend asking a staff member for help
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Impossible to say, too many variables, too little info.
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  • aktures
    aktures Posts: 1 Member
    Mine don't crack when I do them right. Make sure you are using your heels not your toes when you are pressing up. A lot of it has to do with posture. Most people do squats wrong (I learned that the hard way.) Now I love them and they are easy without any pain.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    Are you wearing shoes with a thick heel? Mine crack sometimes too but it was better the day I took my shoes off.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    depends.

    What was the diagnosis your doctor gave you for your knees?

    I personally have crepitus, my knees crack.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    Impossible to say, too many variables, too little info.

    this. but my gym buddy use to have the same problem. it sounded like someone cracking walnuts. she had to really warm up her legs and knees to get the blood flowing and your joints get properly lubricated.

    lots of body weight squats, lunges, some hip thrusts, jumping jacks.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    Do you warm up before doing them?
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    Post a video of you doing squats for a form check, if you want. Otherwise, there's no way to know if you're doing them wrong.
  • chuck636
    chuck636 Posts: 258 Member
    edited January 2015
    I was told not to let your knees go out forward past your toes while going down...shoot butt back,chest out, no knees past toes...then when you're coming up drive weight with heels...will take a lot of pressure off of your knees
  • Tortitudekitty
    Tortitudekitty Posts: 67 Member
    I squat near the end of my workout session so I'm warmed up but the old knees on some days sound like the finale of the 1812 Overture with all the cannons going off!
    It doesn't hurt and I just put it down to the fact that I ain't no Spring chicken anymore. :s ...........but my flexibility has improved sooooooo much!
  • ShibaEars
    ShibaEars Posts: 3,928 Member
    Mine sometimes crack on the first and/or second squat, but after that they don't. Well, one makes crunchy sounds all the time, but that's an old injury :) Check your form, like others have said, to make sure that's not the issue.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    I squat near the end of my workout session so I'm warmed up but the old knees on some days sound like the finale of the 1812 Overture with all the cannons going off!
    It doesn't hurt and I just put it down to the fact that I ain't no Spring chicken anymore. :s ...........but my flexibility has improved sooooooo much!

    Your Tchaikovsky reference wins the thread. :love:
  • mrprytania
    mrprytania Posts: 17 Member
    Joint cracking, without pain, is usually due to a temp vacuum in the fluid of the joint and is considered normal. You should get the same effect with body squats as with your normal squat load. Compare. This sound happens to me with an approaching weather change.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    chuck636 wrote: »
    I was told not to let your knees go out forward past your toes while going down...shoot butt back,chest out, no knees past toes...then when you're coming up drive weight with heels...will take a lot of pressure off of your knees

    Take a gander at this man. From Rip.

    Squat_Bar_Placement.jpg
  • chuck636
    chuck636 Posts: 258 Member
    Hmmmm...lol..I'm no expert...just works for me
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    chuck636 wrote: »
    Hmmmm...lol..I'm no expert...just works for me

    Naw I understand, just wanted to show that to you, from a legit expert. Just to say, that if your knees do go forward, it's not going to be bad, provided you're hitting depth. Depth is a must, otherwise those poor knees get pounded with a lot of shear force.
  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    BFDeal wrote: »
    Mine click but they also click when I walk up steps. No pain associated with either for me so I don't' sweat it. Did some searches on it before and it seems like it happens to some and doesn't mean much. YMMV. If you're worried or there's pain see a doctor of course.

    Mine also click when I walk up steps. And sometimes just when I am walking. There's definitely no pain. From the other comments, I can definitely see where I need to work on my form a little.

  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    Post a video of you doing squats for a form check, if you want. Otherwise, there's no way to know if you're doing them wrong.

    Just from these comments, I can see that my form needs a lot of work! I'm going to do some alterations!

  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    bkerr30 wrote: »
    Not normal. Mine did the same thing before a personal trainer helped me correct my form. I was leaning too far forward where my knees passed my toes. Also make sure you're driving up through your heels. If you workout at a gym I would highly recommend asking a staff member for help

    I do them at home, so I have no staff to ask, but I think I am definitely leaning too far forward. I will correct it and see if it helps!
  • chuck636
    chuck636 Posts: 258 Member
    O I know...I've just changed things,and played with form and take in all advice on knees and shoulders...my problem areas from many years of football and being heavier to accommodate my joints with extra mileage
  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    I just did some test squats at work- correcting my form, keeping my knees behind the tips of my toes and there was no cracking at all. Thank you guys!
  • bkerr30
    bkerr30 Posts: 131 Member
    Yay!! That's excellent to hear :D
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    rbfdac wrote: »
    I just did some test squats at work- correcting my form, keeping my knees behind the tips of my toes and there was no cracking at all. Thank you guys!
    Review the picture I posted above for good squat form.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    Impossible to say, too many variables, too little info.

    this. but my gym buddy use to have the same problem. it sounded like someone cracking walnuts. she had to really warm up her legs and knees to get the blood flowing and your joints get properly lubricated.

    lots of body weight squats, lunges, some hip thrusts, jumping jacks.

    yall should hear me go up the stairs in the morning. sounds like someone is eating Cracklin Oat Bran on your shoulder.

    I have to warm up before I do anything. My knees and ankles are destroyed. But those bodyweight warm ups actually SOLVED the problem, and I also take glucosamine.

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    ok, glad to see this thread because something funny and related happened this morning.

    I woke up (hooray! I'm always happy when that happens), and as part of my wake up ritual, I do a preflight check, rotate my hands and feet. Well, my ankle cracked so loud, that my dog who was asleep at the foot of the bed. Immediately wakes up, bolts out the room and stalks the dining room growling quietly looking for the source of the noise.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    BAHAHAHA
  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    ok, glad to see this thread because something funny and related happened this morning.

    I woke up (hooray! I'm always happy when that happens), and as part of my wake up ritual, I do a preflight check, rotate my hands and feet. Well, my ankle cracked so loud, that my dog who was asleep at the foot of the bed. Immediately wakes up, bolts out the room and stalks the dining room growling quietly looking for the source of the noise.

    Ha!
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    chuck636 wrote: »
    I was told not to let your knees go out forward past your toes while going down...shoot butt back,chest out, no knees past toes...then when you're coming up drive weight with heels...will take a lot of pressure off of your knees

    Take a gander at this man. From Rip.

    Squat_Bar_Placement.jpg

    Beat me to it. When in doubt defer to the master.

  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    ok, glad to see this thread because something funny and related happened this morning.

    I woke up (hooray! I'm always happy when that happens), and as part of my wake up ritual, I do a preflight check, rotate my hands and feet. Well, my ankle cracked so loud, that my dog who was asleep at the foot of the bed. Immediately wakes up, bolts out the room and stalks the dining room growling quietly looking for the source of the noise.

    lol that's awesome/hysterical.

    I know when I get up out of bed- there is definitely about 4-5 steps taken that are cracking EVERY single step- and I can't stand up straight for several steps.

    Also. From my understanding- as long as you aren't really in pain- you're fine.
This discussion has been closed.