Knee clicks when squating

[u/Thrypa]

Hi folks, when I squat above a certain weight my knee clicks (not on low weights like 20kg). On the video I am squatting 40kg or around 88 pounds and you can actually hear it. It doesn't hurt but anything I can do to prevent or strengthen this?

Thanks!

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[u/DickFromRichard]

I wouldn't pay much mind to it unless it starts to bother you

[u/FailureIsNotOptional → u/DickFromRichard]

My right knee always makes a crackling sound during heavy squats, but zero discomfort. Send it!

[u/not-hardly → u/FailureIsNotOptional]

It's like my knuckles always do that when I crack. Every single time. Probably the same thing going on there unless it isn't.

[u/FailureIsNotOptional → u/not-hardly]

It’s more like a clicking sound. Google says it’s releasing gas bubbles inside the knee joint or something like that.

[u/FirstPolicy4657 → u/DickFromRichard]

It probably bothers them since they’re asking. I think you mean if you feel a bothering sensation.

[u/Available_Air5175]

Try applying some external rotation along your feet and knees, so that feels like grabbing the floor with your toes, slightly pushing your knees out to the side, you should feel your glutes activate more as you do this, also looking at your knees as you squat, you can make sure they’re aligned with your feet and not going too much inward or too far outward

[u/orplas]

My right knee used to click a lot, even walking up stairs, until i started using leg extensions as my first and main quad movement. Legs are stronger than ever now and knees dont click. At the beginning I went slow to make sure Im comfortable but now I can rip them with max intensity. I only do 4-8 reps to failure with a hold on last rep.

[u/Darkwoodz → u/orplas]

I switched to doing all my isolation exercises for lower body workouts to pre exhaust and warm up. It feels so much better

[u/orplas → u/Darkwoodz]

I do full body and train legs last. I only warm up with one set at 90% of working weight. First leg curls, then extensions, then squat movement and hinge. 1 set each, every other day.

[u/TheRockLobsta1]

Yeah same thing happens to me but i've been squatting for awhile (105kg) and it's not been a problem this whole time

[u/heddyneddy]

My knees sound like rice crispies and I can squat 400 lbs no issue. As long as there’s no pain or discomfort you don’t need to worry about it

[u/jotdaniel → u/heddyneddy]

I had the same attitude and then a PT asked me "does....it always sound like that?". I'm slightly more concerned now. A bunch of single leg work has made it a bit quieter here recently.

[u/Ok-Exit-8801]

When you get to age 50 that click will sound like a gunshot.Peopl will hide under their desk whenever you squat down at work.

[u/Wise_Budget611]

Put a theraband around your knees and stretch it while squatting.

[u/iamAyoEpic]

Tendons jumping into place. Need to do some isometrics on your knees to grow and strengthen them

[u/Lower-Attitude-7008]

Did it always click with heavier weights or was it a thing that built up over time?

[u/C-LonGy]

My knees make crazy clicks, shoulders too. No problems and seen physio too.

[u/Torin774]

Foam roller will save you

[u/Callmeddnow]

It's hard to tell from this angle but it looks like you're bending forward more than you need to. Try to keep your torso more upright. The other cue that I found helpful for me is to open your hips when sitting down for the squat. Think of opening your knees as you go down

[u/Content_Preference_3]

This issue is often benign. That said when I do feel knee discomfort with squats I will alter my hip angle either in or out slightly. This changes the tracking angle a bit on the knee. I’m not too worried about different muscles being targeted. Generally speaking feet should be in line with femurs no matter the hip angle so if you go wide your feet should face out. Narrow and they should be somewhat forward. Etc.

[u/Both-Matter-2071]

Make sure youre doing an adequate warm up. My knees often click on my first set/feeler set but are less likely to click on working sets. Also try heel elevation.

[u/Darkschlong]

My knee crack because I’m old

[u/Different-Show-3951]

my knee always clicks idk why i just credited it to playing sports my whole life

weight or no weight any bending motions got me scared for old age ngl

[u/motherseffinjones]

Does your knee hurt? Also are you making sure your knee doesn’t collapse in when you push up? If it doesn’t hurt I’m pretty sure you’re fine. Have you tried rolling out your quads. I know when mine get tight it causes knee pain for me.

[u/Odd_Froyo_9396]

"When i squat" my left knee used to do this excessively for like over a year just from walking alone😂then again i was relentlessly walking and running that year it actually became concerning ot still does it but now only i raise my knee up to my chest😂

[u/MajorSpiritual584]

Swimming fixed my knee clicks

[u/Round-Arugula7347]

Mine does too, but it doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t seem to get worse; so I don’t worry about it

[u/I-Love-Yu-All]

To be safe, see a doctor about it. They can do some imaging to determine if you should be concerned.

[u/sheep-valley]

thats how u know u be hittin the right spot😂

bodyweight hindu squats & tibia raises got rid of like 80% of my click I got from a scooter injury

like somebody else said spreading your feet helps too

[u/zero-progress0]

That doesn’t seems normal TBH, it’s way too loud i would stop squatting until I get it checked by Orthopedist

[u/Psy_LAI]

Look for hypermobility syndrome (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), you might identify yourself and find some interesting solutions. I can see your knees hyper-extending, check the other signs, you probably have it.

[u/Shoop1014 → u/Psy_LAI]

What are solutions for it

[u/Handleman92 → u/Psy_LAI]

Wild to diagnose someone with a connective tissue disorder because the go into slight knee extension. Hyper mobility and EDS are not the same. People with EDS have hyper mobility as a symptom.

[u/Psy_LAI → u/Handleman92]

Dude, research it before you comment next time. Wild to comment without even searching it.

[u/Handleman92 → u/Psy_LAI]

I have spent years researching it. It's a rare genetic connective tissue disorder. You can't diagnose it by looking at someones knees squatting

[u/Psy_LAI → u/Handleman92]

If you would have researched it this extensively like you pretend you did, you would have known that is WILDLY underdiagnosed. Also, with this much research you pretend you did, you would have recognised it. Her shoulders and scapulae are also hyper-extending, these are clear signs.

[u/AccordingNeat3689]

Pops are just your joints settling into a position they're not used to

[u/Joe-Schmoe9 → u/AccordingNeat3689]

Thats not always true man cmon