My knees come together when I squat. Is this ok?
3 min read
Asked by: Jay Magliozzi
Why do my knees come together when I squat?
Essentially, if your knees cave inward during your squat—either during the descent or the ascent phase—you are putting your knee joint in an unstable and unsafe position. This is sometimes called knee valgus, valgus collapse, or some combination of the two.
How do I fix my knee going inward when squatting?
How To Fix Knee Valgus During Squat (7 Tips)
- Focus on your toes.
- Screw your feet into the ground.
- Perform single-leg exercises.
- Work on your hip abduction.
- Increase ankle mobility.
- Narrow your stance.
- Use the appropriate weight.
Why do my knees cave in when squatting?
Knee valgus is when the knee caves in during functional movements such as squats, step-ups, jumping, etc. Allowing the knees to fall into valgus changes the stress that normally occurs across the knee joint, which can cause pain and put athletes at an increased risk for potential injury.
Should your knees go inward when squatting?
If you’re not a total noob, you probably know that your knees are supposed to track over your feet throughout the squat in order to minimize risk of injury and optimize performance. “Valgus Knee Collapse” is specifically when your knees collapse inward.
How do you fix knock knees?
Treatment for mild cases of knock knee in children or adolescents may include braces to help bones grow in the correct position. If a gradual correction does not occur, surgery may be recommended. In the growing child, guided-growth minimal-incision surgery may be used to encourage the leg to gradually grow straight.
What exercises fix knock knees?
Apply i'm going to push down i'm going to give a little more pressure to that outside until i get a good stretch here in this left leg hold three times 20 seconds. And then repeat that on both sides.
Why does my knees go inward?
excessive pressure on the knees – for example, as a result of obesity or loose knee ligaments (the bands of tissue around joints that connect bones to one another) an injury or infection affecting the knees or leg bones. genetic conditions affecting the development of the bones or joints.
What does knock knees mean?
Knock knees (genu valgum) is a condition in which the knees tilt inward while the ankles remain spaced apart. The condition is slightly more common in girls, though boys can develop it too. Knock knees are usually part of a child’s normal growth and development.
What is the proper squat form?
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly out, core braced, and chest up. Initiate a basic squat movement — hips back, knees bent, ensuring they fall out, not in. Pause when your thighs reach about parallel to the ground. Push through your entire foot to return to start.
What happens if you do squats wrong?
When you do squats, you’re supposed to feel the strain in your legs. If you’re feeling pain in the lower back, you’re probably doing it wrong. This means that you are putting the weight and work into your lower back muscles instead of your glutes and quadriceps. Pay attention when you squat.
How many squats a day will make a difference?
When it comes to how many squats you should do in a day, there’s no magic number — it really depends on your individual goals. If you’re new to doing squats, aim for 3 sets of 12-15 reps of at least one type of squat. Practicing a few days a week is a great place to start.
