Son having knee pain when squatting

[Cfroyal2023]

My son is a sophomore and kid that won was a senior but my son has been lifting with me and my buddies since he was around 14 , I’m a single dad and that was our time together. The kid loves it and obviously gifted but I do worry about the long term ramifications of it .

 

[Cfroyal2023]

Football is different down in South Georgia, these kids love it and everything that comes along with it

 

[Utlagr]

Im brand new here, long time lurker. Im sorry this is my first 'intro' post but I thought I may be able to help.

I have been squatting everyday (6x/wk) for about 6 months, and back when I thought I could do anything with o lifting, was upwards of 10x a week. I used to get bad knee pain until I got this piece of advice.

I take a moderate stance, like a regular standing width, than half step out. Key is to point the toes OUT farther than you think they should be, then as you descend to overly shove out the knees. If the toes are point out far enough, like 40°, the knees will track fine. You raise out of the box with hip drive and not lifting the head. This tends to improve bar pathology, as it will be more critical to keep the bar in the right path. Losing balance is harder, but so it regaining it since you dont have much forward foot area to push off of, if that makes sense.

What happens is most people impinge the hips too much while squatting, which doesnt allow the hamstring to function properly. This places uneven stress at the ADL/CDL and just around the knee joint generally, and eventually something becomes inflamed. This is what people are doing when they have the infamous 'squat good morning'. Quads and hams arent working together, but rather one at a time.

This method does not allow as much of a forward knee movement as most guys are used to, so lots of people find lifting shoes unnecessary since it requires less ankle flexibility.

You must squat BETWEEN the thighs, and not ontop of them.

Understand that if you develop any form of tendonopathy, it can never truly be healed. It is a permanent injury that can be remidiated, but it will always reinjure easier the next time. Ask my left elbow how I know.

 

[bornSkinny]

Raw , he’s around 250 and yes kid that won got 560

Just being that age and carrying around that weight could start to stress the joints. It could take time for them to adjust to meeting the demands of that load.
That’s going to be highly individual based on genetics obviously.

Not trying to be rude, but what kind of 250 are we talking about?
How much jiggle in his wiggle?
Asking because if he’s fairly lean, I’d say keep working with some SC coaches and/or PT to fix the knee as is. However, if he’s carrying extra weight around all the time addressing that by making adjustments to diet and prioritizing other activities besides static strength pursuit, might be more prudent. It could be better long term and give his body more time to adjust to its larger size.

Either way 550 squat is impressive.

 

[Cfroyal2023]

Just being that age and carrying around that weight could start to stress the joints. It could take time for them to adjust to meeting the demands of that load.
That’s going to be highly individual based on genetics obviously.

Not trying to be rude, but what kind of 250 are we talking about?
How much jiggle in his wiggle?
Asking because if he’s fairly lean, I’d say keep working with some SC coaches and/or PT to fix the knee as is. However, if he’s carrying extra

weight around all the time addressing that by making adjustments to diet and prioritizing other activities besides static strength pursuit, might be more prudent. It could be better long term and give his body more time to adjust to its larger size.

Either way 550 squat is impressive.

He’s def got some extra weight , he’s a guard on the O-Line but not fat by any means . He’s 6’1 248 and benches 350 , squat 550 and power cleans 325 , the kid is a beast

 

[Cfroyal2023]

They start lifting in junior high year round on top of he lifts with a group of buddies on their own , one of those deals that yeah it’s probably too much but it keeps them out of trouble . We live in a two red light town and I would rather his truck be at the gym than on a dirt road drinking beer and god knows what else these days

 

[JuiceJohn]

He’s def got some extra weight , he’s a guard on the O-Line but not fat by any means . He’s 6’1 248 and benches 350 , squat 550 and power cleans 325 , the kid is a beast

I never touched weights above 225 when I was 16 Will I tell the diff between a grown-ass man and him?

 

[Cfroyal2023]

He’s a grown one for sure , I would dread it to say the least

 

[Cfroyal2023]

He’s all state as a sophomore which makes this old man proud for sure !

 

[clearheaded]

ya I still say get a sport or paediatric physical therapist. they will be far better than a strength coach at technique or any random on the internet.. even for month and a half once a week if go in with questions they will answer and will garner a tonne of knowledge not only to keep knees from being injured but also training in general and prob have a tonne of tips about what should do to prevent alot of the most common ones by a kid in his position.

far better than failed PE teacher which of course can be great to keep an eye on things with boots on the ground. imagine a tonne of great resources in places with big football and big $$... 5-7 sessions would be in the 100s not thousands of dollars and even 2 visits just to try would be money well spent and save money on possibly braces that would cause more damage keeping areas weaker vs strengthening them...

I know alot of guys wore ankle braces and then there ankles stayed so weak would roll them instantly without braces or then had knee issues. why you need someone who isn't just trying to sell u something but can tell you when or how to use and stress the extra training u need to do if wearing a brace in order to gain strength so dont need the brace.

im not 100% sure normal knee brace can even help knee cap issues? and again may just make the knee weaker. although yes of course braces have a place for certain issues for certain periods. again need someone who knows what they are talking about.

 

[Demondosage]

Football teams have absolutely no regard to proper training for growing teenagers. Stop squatting until it gets better, actually just stop squatting period, they’re such an overrated exercise

 

[jJjburton]

Sounds like patella tendonitis…

One way to prevent form issues is put a wedge under the heel or get squatting shoes, as the form may be off, with flexibility and porportions. May even originate from ankle mobility.

 

[jJjburton]

ya I still say get a sport or paediatric physical therapist. they will be far better than a strength coach at technique or any random on the internet.. even for month and a half once a week if go in with questions they will answer and will garner a tonne of knowledge not only to keep knees from being injured but also training in general and prob have a tonne of tips about what should do to prevent alot of the most common ones by a kid in his position.

far better than failed PE teacher which of course can be great to keep an eye on things with boots on the ground. imagine a tonne of great resources in places with big football and big $$... 5-7 sessions would be in the 100s not thousands of dollars and even 2 visits just to try would be money well spent and save money on possibly braces that would cause more damage keeping areas weaker vs strengthening them...

I know alot of guys wore ankle braces and then there ankles stayed so weak would roll them instantly without braces or then had knee issues. why you need someone who isn't just trying to sell u something but can tell you when or how to use and stress the extra training u need to do if wearing a brace in order to gain strength so dont need the brace.

im not 100% sure normal knee brace can even help knee cap issues? and again may just make the knee weaker. although yes of course braces have a place for certain issues for certain periods. again need someone who knows what they are talking about.

I agree, go see a physical therapist, even if pay out of pocket for sessions, they know there shit, at least some do.

 

[LarryLove]

He’s all state as a sophomore which makes this old man proud for sure !

Don’t let him get injured. His free ride through college might be riding on it. Pay for a GOOD coach. Might save you guys ~100k.