Question about squats and knee pain.

[GodLovesUgly]

So i started out in boxing and thats how i stumbled across sherdog. this led me to the S&P and inspired me to take up some weight training. through reading the boards i put together a 5x5 program that im following pretty scrupulously. Im about a month into the program and i have made gains but i think alot of it has to do with improvement to my form over actual gain in strength. ive noticed that following day after a workout i have slight pain in my knee's when doing things like walking down stairs. my question is if this is normal to have slight pain or is a sign of bad form. ive never had any proper instruction with weights but ive done a lot of research on form and so forth through links on this site as well as any videos i could find but i wouldn't be surprised if i was still doing some stuff wrong. im using pretty light weight as im going ATG and its pretty difficult starting out. another thing worth mentioning is im 6"3' with alot of my hight in my legs. so im not sure if that makes it harder as opposed to someone with a shorter more compact build.

 

[Ziltoid]

hmmm...im interested to see what others have to say about this. I actually had knee pains from running on pavement...when I started squatting...the pain is now gone. It actually helped me big time. im not an expert so I cant really give you great advice. Though some people might give you tips or ask for you to upload a video so they can see. Its probably the easiest way to tell how good your form is. Are you driving off your heels when you go up?

 

[fearfactory]

take a video of your form and do a better job explaining what type of pain you're experiencing.


edit: can't resist speculating that your toes are forward of feet, knees are buckling, back is rounding in the hole, and shoulders are slumped forward.

 

[GodLovesUgly]

yeah, i know my form is by no means perfect, it gets better each week though. thats why im not really trying to load up with the weight just yet. im kinda just doing a dry run with the program sorta speak in order to work on form. but yes im driving with my heels. legs out wide feet pointing out. i try to follow everything ive read on here. on a side note: before i started boxing i was running alot. like 8 miles a day. then i got horrible pain in my knee which forced me to stop. that was a few years ago and now the most i run is about 2 miles at a time but i never feel any pain while doing it. thats why i wondered if maybe i just have something wrong with my knees or its just bad form/not used to the exercise.

 

[GodLovesUgly]

okay will do, the pain is sort of a tightness that aches on the back of the knee, i feel it more in the back of my leg above the calf muscle. its not constant, its usually in the morning after a workout. by the end of the rest day its gone. so this could be just bad form then?

 

[fearfactory]

keeping weight relatively light, focusing on form, and gradually progressing weight is wise.

 

[GodLovesUgly]

keeping weight relatively light, focusing on form, and gradually progressing weight is wise.

thanks, heeding the advice of the S&P, real gains requires real form.

 

[RollinDownRodeo]

You may be leaning forward a tad when your driving the weight back up. Rather than thinking about pushing through your heels when you come up out of the bottom of the squat, think about driving your ass up into the air while keeping your chest up.

It awfully difficult to critique your own form especially when learning a new exercise. If there is someone at your gym who knows how to squat then ask them to watch you do a few reps. Or, as fearfactory said, take a video and post it here. No doubt you'll receive valuable feedback.

 

[GodLovesUgly]

You may be leaning forward a tad when your driving the weight back up. Rather than thinking about pushing through your heels when you come up out of the bottom of the squat, think about driving your ass up into the air while keeping your chest up.

It awfully difficult to critique your own form especially when learning a new exercise. If there is someone at your gym who knows how to squat then ask them to watch you do a few reps. Or, as fearfactory said, take a video and post it here. No doubt you'll receive valuable feedback.

ok ill try that. i know its hard without actually seeing it. ill take a video though. the gym i go too was a boxing gym exclusively but it merged with a golds gym up the street. its kinda cool as now i have access to weights and such. the thing is that many of the people who were legit into boxing left so i dont get much sparring in and i have NEVER seen anyone squat ATG there. ever. it could just be the times i go in or whatever maybe i miss the people who are serious but i doubt ill get any good advice from anyone that works out there. its all just curls....as far as the eye can see..

 

[RollinDownRodeo]

i have NEVER seen anyone squat ATG there. ever.

its all just curls....as far as the eye can see..

Unfortunately that seems to be the rule as opposed to the exception at most gyms. Who knows maybe your squatting will open up everyone's eyes to what they've been missing... or they'll just stare and look at you funny.

 

[GodLovesUgly]

doubtful, im a pretty lanky guy, if you dont look impressive people automatically write you off. so its just the odd looks im afraid.