In this article, learn about the causes of knee pain from squatting, how to treat it, and how to prevent knee pain in the future.

However, people who squat incorrectly and those with a knee injury or existing knee condition may experience knee pain.

Many people squat regularly as part of their workout routine or during everyday tasks. Squatting correctly should not cause knee pain.

Possible reasons why a person might experience knee pain from squatting include:

Squatting incorrectly

Share on Pinterest A person may have knee pain from squatting if they are performing the move incorrectly.

If people are not squatting correctly, they may experience knee pain. Performing this movement incorrectly can put pressure on the knees rather than the thigh muscles and glutes.

We cover how to squat correctly later in this article.

A person who continues to experience pain after adjusting how they squat should visit their doctor to check for any underlying knee problems.

Spraining the knee

Twisting the knee awkwardly while squatting or receiving a blow to the knee may cause a sprain.

Sprains are painful and can cause swelling. These injuries can make it painful to squat and do other exercises that involve the knee. A person with a sprained knee may also find it hard to walk or put any weight on this joint.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome

Patellofemoral pain syndrome can cause pain around the kneecap and in the front of the knee, making it painful to squat.

Anyone can develop patellofemoral pain syndrome, but some people refer to it as “runner’s knee” or “jumper’s knee” because it often affects individuals who do a lot of sport. Any injury to the knee may also cause knee pain when squatting.

Tendonitis

Tendons connect the muscles to the bones. Tendonitis of the knee can happen if a person strains or overuses the tendons around the knee, causing them to swell.

Tendonitis is more likely to occur as a result of repetitive movements, particularly if these exert a lot of force on the tendon. People often make repetitive movements while playing sports or working in a manual labor job.

Arthritis of the knee

Arthritis causes the joints to become painful and inflamed. Different types of arthritis can affect almost any of the joints in the body, including the knee.

Cartilage is the flexible, firm tissue that surrounds the joints and enables them to move smoothly. Osteoarthritis develops if this cartilage breaks down.

People with knee osteoarthritis may experience pain and swelling around the knee and feel as though the joint is stiff.

Osteoarthritis is most common in people over the age of 65 years.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that affects joints all over the body. The immune system attacks healthy tissue surrounding the joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Post-traumatic arthritis can happen after an injury to the knee that damages the joints or ligaments. If an infection spreads to the knee, it can cause infectious arthritis of this joint.

Tendon or cartilage tears

A severe injury or sprain can cause the cartilage in the knee to tear. People may need to wear a knee support during physical activity after a cartilage tear.

A patellar tendon tear is one that occurs in a tendon of the knee, which can happen due to a blow, jumping, or a weakened tendon.

Symptoms of a patella tendon tear include:

difficulty walking

buckling of the knee

a moving kneecap

pain and tenderness

an indentation under the kneecap

The type of treatment will depend on the size of the tendon tear. Physiotherapy may sometimes be sufficient, but surgery is usually necessary.

Iliotibial band syndrome

The iliotibial band, or IT band, is tissue that runs the length of the upper leg from the hip to the knee. When a person bends their knee, the IT band moves to support it.

If the IT band becomes inflamed, it can rub on the outer knee and cause pain, especially during movements that involve the joint, such as squatting. IT band syndrome often affects runners. People who do not stretch properly before exercising also have a higher risk of sustaining this injury.