Be careful post injury. Start with an empty barbell, focus on your technique, add weight gradually. You’ll get there. Good luck.

Thank everyone for setting me straight. Maybe I’ll do some more research before shooting my mouth off next time .

You’re body was designed to squat deep. There’s nothing wrong with doing this. Chinese people have the habit of sitting in a bottom squat position for extended periods of time.

Keeping your knees healthy while squatting is all about technique:
-Increase the weight gradually
-Work on flexibility & mobility in hamstrings/hip joint if needed
-Don’t bounce at the bottom
-Keep your knees out
-et

PTs will advise you not to go full rom for two reasons:
-They fear you’ll injure yourself because you’re not using proper technique.
-They lack understanding of how the squat works & what correct technique is.

5 millions people are involved in weightlifting competition worlwide. They all squat deep. Their injury rate is lower than in any other sport like soccer, football,…

Your question is worth a post Peter. Thanks for giving me the idea.

Don’t force the movement using weight. Rather do flexibility/mobility exercises. You’ll be amazed how fast flexiblity improves with only 3 sessions of 10mins a week.

Yes Jon, start with the Squat as laid out in the beginner strength training program. The “advanced” version of the program includes front squats. I’ll post the program in September when I get back.

from a biomechanical standpoint, the patellar tendon isn’t at risk to injury until the shins start tilting forward at a considerable angle (i.e. weight is being pushed near the balls of the feet, not the heels), and the supportive ligaments (ACL, MCL, LCL) aren’t in danger of damage unless the knees don’t follow the toes, i.e. they drift inwards during the squat, you let the bar crash on you and let your feet shift on the way down, etc.

and what you and the physical therapists that you have been treated by are trying to say is basically, the limbs of the body are constantly at risk because the ROM that they have been built for is dangerous, and therefore you should consciously limit the ROM that you let your joints move through, which quite frankly does not make a whole lot of sense – how many babies and children should be going to the ER on a daily basis because of their daily activities? aren’t their joints as fragile, or even more fragile, than a trained athlete’s ?

also there are some schools of thought in PT which advocate full ROM squatting as part of a rehabilitation program

weightlifting is a sport that basically revolves around the ability to squat deep, and while it does have its fair share of athletes who damage their knees and backs, there are also many athletes who continue to compete into their 30s, 40s, and 50s in Master divisions … like other sports, i.e. football, wrestling, etc., there is a risk for injury when competing (in the form of “forgetting” to move a certain way, allowing the body to deviate from correct positions, etc.), but that risk can be minimized through good decision-making and recovery habits

of course, no one is saying that you as an individual have to change your squatting habits, if you really believe it’s not good for you, don’t do it, i’m only arguing that as far as athletic training (i.e. weight training in a controlled, regulated environment under good supervision) goes, deep squatting is a producer of good leg strength and health, not a damager