I usually just go to parallel, but yesterday I went all the way down (well as far as my limited flexibility would let me), and I got a pain (not that bad, just a little sore) just below my left patella. Has anyone else had this happen?
um no, but
pain?? during, after, muscle soreness or other??? if after and muscle could be just the recruitment of musculature throughout well you whole body in an unaccustomed way
Phill
It’s soreness under my left patella. It seems like it would be a bad position to put your knees in by going ATG. I mean, I was only doing reps of 205, but I couldn’t imagine doing more than that. Going for the bottom position to parallel seems like it would puts LOTS of stress on your knee.
T-Nationers - How many of you guys do ATG squats, and how many of you just go to parallel? At the gymn I got to (California Family Fitness) I have only seen 1 guy (big f’in gymn) go ATG, and he wrapped his knees - would that be a good thing to start doing if I keep going ATG?
I always stick at parallel with heavy weights, and I figured that doing some ATG squats would help with this. Also, coming out of the hole, many times I feel like my weight shifts towards my toes, and I lean forward too far.
When I try to keep my weight on my heels, I feel like I can’t do nearly as much, as my low back is pretty strong relative to my legs (squat max is probably 275 while DL is around 335). Is it ok to lean forward while squatting?
Or, should I focus on keeping the weight on my heals.
Thanks for any help you can give.
I have actually had this and seen a number of people with this. It usually happens when you start squatting deep. I have been squatting ATG Oly style for about 6 yrs now and after the first little while, the pain went away. There is a name for it, Osgood-Schlatter syndrome. I wouldn’t wrap your knees, but look for a device that wraps around the area just below your knee. That should releive the pain while you get used to squatting deep. The other thing you can do is ease up on the weight until your knees and back catch up.
Just a few things to think about from an Oly lifter who squats like this 2-4 days a week with no knee pain.
Thanks for the advice, I think I’ll just gradually increase the weight, even though I can handle more…
[quote]markdp wrote:
T-Nationers - How many of you guys do ATG squats, and how many of you just go to parallel?[/quote]
If I were to guess, I would say that damn near zero squat ‘ass to grass’. I’d bet that few even squat to parallel.
This has been my observation from the last two+ decades of watching people squat in the gyms I’ve belonged.
A couple of rules of thumb that I’ve come up with:
(1) if someone claims to squat ‘ass to grass’, they probably squat to parallel.
(2) if someone claims to squat to parallel, they probably squat about four inches above parallel.
There are, of course, exception.
Try to push OUT against the side of your shoes, instead of back on your heels. It helps.
I recently started to have the same problems where the lower patellar tendon hurts when I started doing BB ATG Back Squats but for some reason it didn’t occur when I did ATG Front Squats. I self diagnosed myself with osgood schlatter. Should I use the device to wrap my knees or just squat and deal with the pain.
[quote]f_fatman9999 wrote:
markdp wrote:
A couple of rules of thumb that I’ve come up with:
(1) if someone claims to squat ‘ass to grass’, they probably squat to parallel.
(2) if someone claims to squat to parallel, they probably squat about four inches above parallel.
[/quote]
In my gym, I have seen 3 people squat ATG, and one to parallel, even fellow trainers don’t go to at least parallel. This is over the the course of 3 years of what I’ve seen, and I work at this gym. And like you said, when these people discuss numbers, they claim there squats are parellel, which unless they only squat like a pussy when I happen to be there, is false.
[quote]olylifter106 wrote:
I have actually had this and seen a number of people with this. It usually happens when you start squatting deep. I have been squatting ATG Oly style for about 6 yrs now and after the first little while, the pain went away. There is a name for it, Osgood-Schlatter syndrome. I wouldn’t wrap your knees, but look for a device that wraps around the area just below your knee. That should releive the pain while you get used to squatting deep. The other thing you can do is ease up on the weight until your knees and back catch up.
Just a few things to think about from an Oly lifter who squats like this 2-4 days a week with no knee pain.[/quote]
The device you are talking about is called a Cho-pat strap. It’s used to treat jumper’s knee and relieve some of the pain associated with Osgood-Schlatter’s Condition. I agree though, if you are having patellar pain, then do not wrap your knees, as doing so will increase the amount of pressure being placed on the patellar tendon, leading to more pain and quite possibly tendinitis.
I’ve noticed that with friends of mine who aren’t use to being in the deep squat position. Does it happen if you’re just sitting in a squat for an extended period of time? You could try just squatting whenever you can instead of sitting, like to watch tv, until you’re use to the position.
Consider lowering the weight to an empty bar and slowly building the weight up 10 lbs at a time over the coarse of a couple of months. If it is hurting then clearly you either have a weakness that needs to be strengthened or you are not using proper form. Do overhead squats ATG with the empty bar to make sure your form is in check.
lol this thread is still open, wow. I stopped doing squats about 5 months ago. I got stuck at 245 for reps of 10 and wasn’t progressing and started doing leg presses. Since then my legs have blown up; I’m guessing this is do to the fact that I’m 6’3" and have long femurs.
Anyways, to tell you the truth I hated squat day. It kicked my ass and I loved the feeling after I was done but I dreaded that shit. I was always fearful of getting to the bottom position and not being able to get out of the hole. Now I just do deads and leg presses on leg day. I know squats are supposedly way better for you but fuck it. I don’t care. I go to the gym purely for aesthetic purposes and could give a fuck how much I squat.
[quote]olylifter106 wrote:
I have actually had this and seen a number of people with this. It usually happens when you start squatting deep. I have been squatting ATG Oly style for about 6 yrs now and after the first little while, the pain went away. There is a name for it, Osgood-Schlatter syndrome. I wouldn’t wrap your knees, but look for a device that wraps around the area just below your knee. That should releive the pain while you get used to squatting deep. The other thing you can do is ease up on the weight until your knees and back catch up.
Just a few things to think about from an Oly lifter who squats like this 2-4 days a week with no knee pain.[/quote]
Osgood-Schlatter syndrome? That’s a hell of a diagnosis based on a little knee pain in the bottom position of a squat. I am not trying to bust you balls, but Osgood-Schlatter syndrome is a bone growth in the tendon and there is usually a visible lump. It comes from doing high impact on the knees during formative years of growth.
Unless you have a lump below that knee, I doubt you have this. Your problem is likely do to one or both of the following: Foot position, and/or lack of mobility. Check foot position and make sure it is comfortable, i.e. is not forcing you knees in one direction or another. Usually, pointing out slightly is most natural. Also, get in to bottom position with NO weight at all and see how it feels. Look for pain or excessive stretching, anything unusual. If so, go in to the position often and stretch the tendon. Mobility will set you free!!
ATG is the only way, anything else is not a squat.
learn the 3rd world squat. seriously, and chill out in it for hours on end. end of all squating problems. it will also help you solve your math homework.