Knees buckle in a squat with ANY weight

[joliver]

Hello all!

I have a problem with my powerlifting squat stance. I don't care how much weight I am using, my knees buckle in. I don't even feel it. My team sees it and calls it out. I am by no means weak. My deadlift just broke 600. My squat is over 500. But apparently, my knees Didn't get the memo.

Any advice on form or additional exercises would be of great value. Thanks in advance.

 

[R9]

That's kind of a natural reaction -to try to get your knees under you. You just have to consciously fight it until you break yourself of the habit. At some point you will teach your brain that you're stronger pushing your knees out.

I've heard of people squatting with light bands between thier knees so it forces them to push the knees out all the time. I usually just yell "knees out, knees out" until it becomes so irritating the person quits buckling.

What's your stance width like? Raw or equipped? Sometimes people buckle a little and it's a sign that they might do better with a little narrower stance.

 

[joliver]

That's kind of a natural reaction -to try to get your knees under you. You just have to consciously fight it until you break yourself of the habit. At some point you will teach your brain that you're stronger pushing your knees out.

I've heard of people squatting with light bands between thier knees so it forces them to push the knees out all the time. I usually just yell "knees out, knees out" until it becomes so irritating the person quits buckling.

What's your stance width like? Raw or equipped? Sometimes people buckle a little and it's a sign that they might do better with a little narrower stance.

Good thoughts on the band. I squat ultra wide. Although i am thinking of narrowing up a bit. I am a raw lifter for the remainder of this year, but next year i am going equipped.

Thanks for the input. Rep man.

 

[joliver]

If anyone ever stumbles across this post, the answer to the problem as it turns out, is bands. Put a 42 inch band on (both legs inside) and squat. Don't let it hit the ground. Train on the ad and abductor machines.

Its probably not the only answer, but it is a good one.

Thanks all.

 

[DreDay187]

Knees caving in is a sign of weak adductor muscles. Dmsome exercises to strengthen them but the best route is to work on it during your warm up for squats. You must at all times consciously think of a knees out cue. Imagine someone yelling "KNEES OUT!!!" The whole range of motion. It's almost impossible to have knees too far out so just shove them as far out as you can in your mind and your body will usually follow. Start with light warmup weights and work on this and as you increase the weights and over the span of several weeks, you should build the strength and kinesthetic awareness to keep knees in line with toes.

 

[Conrad0032]

It can also be due to weak gluteus, so something to think about. Also I found more squatting helps it as well, as I always had that problem and still do occasionally. The adductor machine helped a little, as did putting heavy bands around my legs and doing bodyweight squats or 135lb squats. My lifts are pretty much the same as yours, but doing lighter weight helps keep the focus on the adductors.