Help with squatting

[exlax]

Aight guys, so I finally decided to take legs more seriously and have included squats in my training. I have a problem with doing them for a couple of reasons. For one, I have a very curvy back so it's impossible for me to keep my back straight when doing them so I think i'm doing a very slight goodmorning motion when i'm comming up. Second, my right knee hurts even with low weights. I stretched, warmed up, etc. and it's still there. Yesterday I said fuck it and I worked through the pain and suprisingly it felt like it was going away. If it would have gotten worse I obviously would have stopped. But what could it be? I'm guessin my knee just isn't used the stress and I gotta battle it out until it goes away.
What do you guys think?

 

[JL_204]

My knees used to bug me when I was squatting to parallel.

Squat all the way down if you dont already.

 

[exlax]

I break parallel

 

[Guinness5.0]

Buy Starting Strength by Mark Rippletoe if possible. Best $30 you'll ever spend with regard to training. FWIW I've been squatting for years and learned quite a bit from this book.

Beyond that, just take it light and get your form right. You may have some strength imbalances which are causing your lean. Keep it light enough so that this does not happen AT ALL and it will take care of itself in time as you progress naturally in strength. Of course that will be hard to do without good instruction (yes I'm "double dipping" my endorsement of S S ).

 

[Extra_Strong]

Be sure you lean what good form is, and stay light till you have it down good will help in the long run.

 

[exlax]

Could it be possible that my back is just too curved to do them properly? has anyone ran into this or a similiar situation? I'm not trying to use it as a crutch, but I'm curious. I did really light weight (135) at 4x8. I'm 6'ish 210ish lbs and deadlift for reps about 3 times that amount I was squatin. Then again I do have small legs, but still...

should I go lighter??

 

[Guinness5.0]

Could it be possible that my back is just too curved to do them properly? has anyone ran into this or a similiar situation? I'm not trying to use it as a crutch, but I'm curious. I did really light weight (135) at 4x8. I'm 6'ish 210ish lbs and deadlift for reps about 3 times that amount I was squatin. Then again I do have small legs, but still...

should I go lighter??

You could have some inflexibilty as well. It's hard to diagnose over the internet. Could you take a vid?

 

[Extra_Strong]

Could it be possible that my back is just too curved to do them properly? has anyone ran into this or a similiar situation? I'm not trying to use it as a crutch, but I'm curious. I did really light weight (135) at 4x8. I'm 6'ish 210ish lbs and deadlift for reps about 3 times that amount I was squatin. Then again I do have small legs, but still...

should I go lighter??

well just make sure your back is arched not bowed.
like if you were laying on the floor and lifted your shoulders off the ground laying on your stomach. or like when you are doing a back bend.

this puts the spine in a strong position.
Just dont bend forward. like when you are doing a set up..

I would practice whith the bar or add 10 pound plates just to start
and work on form.. when you are standing pull your butt upward pushing your stomach out this is how your back should be.. I could not find any pictures..

 

[H_T_]

i can squat down with 300+ all the way and pause for 2+ seconds. learn to sit back with the weight. like sitting down in a chair. keep your knees behind your toes.

 

[exlax]

soe good tips guys, i'll try again next week and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[anotherbutters]

Bump for Starting Strength. You'll have so many good pointers for things to try, you won't know where to start.

http://www.startingstrength.com

Does your back still curve when you deadlift? That sounds like an injury waiting to happen. Of course, there are dozens of pages on deadlift form in the book too