Pain in knees when squatting

I tried doing some squats today and I have a really bad pain in my left knee when I am squatting down and then coming back up. I even tried to squat with no weight and my knee hurts badly.

But, it doesn't hurt when I run or walk. Can I continue to walk/run on it or do you think that will make it worse?

I'm going to give it a week to see if it's still painful to squat. If it still hurts I'll go to the doctor. :(

Replies

  • soccerkon26
    soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
    Bump :(
  • k8millz
    k8millz Posts: 28 Member
    Check your form and make sure you're squatting with your knees out. You might be squatting too narrow. Try a resistance band wrapped just below your knees and do body weight squats until you get your form down. Good luck!
  • ilex70
    ilex70 Posts: 727 Member
    Have you suffered a strain or injury? It might help if you pinpoint the pain (where/what movement).
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    To add to the form suggestion try holding a light medicine ball and pushing it away from your chest as you go down......for some reason this seems to help.

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  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    I've noticed that I have some knee pain if I put any weight at all on my toes as I come up. So I try to wiggle my toes as I come up - that forces me to concentrate on putting all my weight in my heels.
  • karbruce
    karbruce Posts: 73 Member
    Does it also hurt to climb stairs with that leg? Or get up from a sitting position? (Or down for that matter). If so you may want to see your Dr. and/or physio. You may have torn your meniscus in your knee. The only reason I know this is that I had the same thing.
  • soccerkon26
    soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
    It hurts a little to climb stairs. And a tiny bit when I get up from my chair but not much.

    I'll try the medicine ball squat and focusing on not putting weight on my toes! But it just doesn't feel right, and it's only one knee. I'm a little nervous :(

    Thank you all for the help!
  • MelissaPhippsFeagins
    MelissaPhippsFeagins Posts: 8,063 Member
    I have to second that you may have a meniscus problem. mine is partially torn. Some days I can do squats, some days I know better than to try.
  • Scorpio_Runner
    Scorpio_Runner Posts: 39 Member
    When I started doing squats daily my knees did hurt, but now they don't. My knees needed to get use to frequent exercise. ;)
  • _benyboy5
    _benyboy5 Posts: 21 Member
    does it only hurt while squatting or during other activities also?
  • soccerkon26
    soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
    NJgirl001 wrote: »
    When I started doing squats daily my knees did hurt, but now they don't. My knees needed to get use to frequent exercise. ;)

    I'm concerned because this hasn't happened before, and it's only one knee
  • soccerkon26
    soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
    _benyboy5 wrote: »
    does it only hurt while squatting or during other activities also?

    It doesn't hurt when running!
  • Zerbiak
    Zerbiak Posts: 23 Member
    Myself and a friend discovered similar issues mine whilst running and close to an ITB issue. Both of us have seen various specialists and the one thing that seems to be helping the most is strengthening the glutes. I recommend looking further into strengthening exercise for relief
  • soccerkon26
    soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
    Zerbiak wrote: »
    Myself and a friend discovered similar issues mine whilst running and close to an ITB issue. Both of us have seen various specialists and the one thing that seems to be helping the most is strengthening the glutes. I recommend looking further into strengthening exercise for relief


    Thanks for the advice!
  • ivanfawcettgibson
    ivanfawcettgibson Posts: 193 Member
    Where abouts exactly do you get the pain, and where in the motion? Go to the bottom of your stairs (if you have them) or a step, using your 'bad' side step up, forcing yourself to use the leg. Concentrate on the location of the pain. If there isn't any: standing on the step, step down, good leg first, weight on the 'bad' side again and so on.
    Next, are you predominantly right sided?
  • geminiswede
    geminiswede Posts: 903 Member
    I would see a doctor, just to be sure. I have issues with one knee while squatting, going up stairs, or even sitting for a long time with it bent. Turns out mine is apparently chondromalacia or "runner's knee". If it's that, physical therapy or strengthening the leg muscles could help. In my case, the pain is still there, but manageable most of the time. If it's that, running/walking should be fine, but if it's something else it might not be.