Saw knees (squatting straps?)

[Sim882]

Have been (full) squatting 3 times weekly and have started to develop saw knees. They're not terrible, but they are starting to concern me.

Does strapping the knees help?

I'm not sure what precisely is hurting my knees, because they could be overuse by a variety of activities (competition tennis, sprint intervals up hills 3 times per week, or sprint tennis court drills). The knees are clicking sometimes during the low part of the squat though

 

[captainahole]

Wrapping helps to stabilize the knees more than anything and I have used them loyally until lately and after yesterdays incident it will never happen again.

I think they will help to stop wear on them.

 

[fallingeggs]

I would agree that they would help stop the wear, but it is more of a quick fix then really solving the problem. you said that you do a lot of sprinting type of things on top of the squatting and that is what could be causing it. i know personally if i start to run or bike a lot my knees start to feel the stress, but when i am just lifting i feel nothing.

 

[Sim882]

I would agree that they would help stop the wear, but it is more of a quick fix then really solving the problem. you said that you do a lot of sprinting type of things on top of the squatting and that is what could be causing it. i know personally if i start to run or bike a lot my knees start to feel the stress, but when i am just lifting i feel nothing.

I have a tennis tournanment in a couple of weeks, so I am going to have to take it easy on the knees (if I have any chance of competing). Prob no more cardio on top of tennis. Would leg extensions be a more knee friendly substitute to squats? (I know leg extensions are not a great exercise, but just something in mean time)

 

[fallingeggs]

i am not sure if leg extensions are knee friendly, but they should not even be considered a substitute for squats. You could try to lunges... they are at least a little closer, but then again i am not sure how knee friendly they are. Might also try to drop one of the squat workouts to just two a week and have one heavy and one light. It will give you more recovery time.