SOSTherapy (Stuart Offer Sports Therapy)

24/02/2023

Once again in July I will be riding in aid of COPS

Help Stuart Offer raise money to support Care of Police Survivors

05/01/2023

Once again I will be riding for COPS

Help Stuart Offer raise money to support Care of Police Survivors

26/07/2022

A conversation came up whilst riding my bike very recently and the debate got a bit heated. It was that old myth that squatting is bad for your knees. Whilst there many Surgeons Physio Therapists and Personal Trainers that still love to spread the myth it is unlikely to die and be buried like many outdated theories.
Squatting is a 100% natural movement we do every day. Rising and sitting on chairs… going to the toilet… YES they are squats. So why would the myth start? It was believed that squatting would increase pressure on the knee. And whilst pressure does increase to 90 degrees there is growing evidence that pressure decreases past this point, although most acceptable argument is that there is no increase in pressure the deeper you go. One recent study concluded there was more pressure on your knee walking up stairs than during a body weight deep squat.
So is squatting dangerous, simply NO. In fact evidence says the complete opposite it is GOOD for knee ‘health’. Although initially when starting to squat it is important to go as deep as discomfort, even modifying to chair squats if required. Then gradually increasing depth. Whilst it isn’t recommended to go past discomfort sometimes going to where pain is felt is essential as it can show improvement. If pain is constantly felt when squatting it is essential that you get checked by a medical professional.
In my clinical experience knee pain is often felt when there is reduced ankle mobility and/or reduced range of motion within hip.
So should you squat YES