Squats?!

[YoungBuk]

Hey people, Love the site! I'm brand new to abc and I need some help. I tore some cartlidge in my knee about a year ago and I'm waiting to get it scoped, In the mean time, Is it harmful for me to be doing squats? Thanks in advance!

~Mind, Body, spirit~

[ARK]

Why are you waiting? It's not going to fix itself! I had the same problem and eventually the cartiledge flipped over into my knee, preventing me from fully bending or straightening.

[trez]

Squatting with torn cartilage? That is the worse thing you could do for your knee. Why risk further damage?

[tom10]

Trez, it's not the worst thing you can do for your knee. Squats will make the surrounding ligaments and muscles stronger so it takes some of the pressure off the weakened area. It hurts at first to squat, but it gets better over time.

I have the same problem by the way. Future arthritis right here.

[Mr BJ]

Try doing sissy squats or squats with just the bar on your shoulders to see how it feels but you should really get the problem corrected immediately..

[YoungBuk]

Cool! Yeah I'm on the waiting list fer the surgery, but I have to go to the gym. haha. thanks fer the tips people!



~Mind, body, spirit~

[westsidebb24]

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Cool! Yeah I'm on the waiting list fer the surgery, but I have to go to the gym. haha. thanks fer the tips people!



~Mind, body, spirit~

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I'll tell you right now dude....comming from a competitive powerlifting background I've seen more knee injuries then most people.

I'll tell you this....there are three progressive states when it comes to injury in my opinion:

1) Your hurt....this is where your real sore, and its extremely difficult to work that bodypart for a few weeks. You take some time off, and it will eventually repair itself

2) Your injured: This is where you refuse to back down from working that "hurt" bodypart, and eventually you get injured. This might or might not require minor surgery to fix, but its not as bad as being F'd up.

3) Your F'd up: This is where you refuse to get treatmeent for your "injured" bodypart. NOW you are GOING to need surgery, otherwise you won't be able to function properly again without it! You WILL be out of the gym for a LOT longer then if you had just got your "injury" fixed.

My advice, don't do anything to aggrave it. It sounds like you have a good injury already....no need to proceed to step 3.

[trez]

It is understandable that you want to continue to workout and head into surgery with your knee in the best shape possible, but squatting will only aggravate your knee. Squatting may even lead to irreparable damage. Ask your orthopaedic surgeon I guarantee he will tell you the same thing. However, there are many things you can do to stregthen and rehabilitate your knee:

1) Continue you to do strength training exercises for your calves, hamstrings, and especially your hips and glutes.

2) Pool - training in the water (simple movements like shredding water, high knee raises...)

3) NOT free weight squats but with a swiss ball against a wall, stay well above 90 degrees and Don't lock out (knee shouldn't move forward, your heels should be right under your knee).

4) Quad contractions, sit down and try to contract you vastus medialis for 30 seconds straight with 10 seconds rest between sets. Do this exercise throughout the day as often as possible. Feel the burn, it's not as easy as it sounds.

Talk to your O.S. for more exercises.

[westsidebb24]

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3) NOT free weight squats but with a swiss ball against a wall, stay well above 90 degrees and Don't lock out (knee shouldn't move forward, your heels should be right under your knee).



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I'd have to disagree with this, without knowing the exact extent of his injury. Plus, squatting ABOVE 90 degrees places all the stress ONTO the knees, which he does NOT want to do right now.

[trez]

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3) NOT free weight squats but with a swiss ball against a wall, stay well above 90 degrees and Don't lock out (knee shouldn't move forward, your heels should be right under your knee).



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I'd have to disagree with this, without knowing the exact extent of his injury. Plus, squatting ABOVE 90 degrees places all the stress ONTO the knees, which he does NOT want to do right now.

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It wasn't specified where the cartillage was torn or how much damage there is but, staying above 90 degrees without locking the knee is the safe zone for your knees and especially the cartillage. By above 90 degrees, I mean above parallel, quarter squats. If you do experience pain with this exercise or any or the rehabilitation activities, make the appropriate adjustments or stop.