I don't knees no hack squats...

[EarWax]

My knees are killing me on the hack squats... any ideas what I may be doing wrong? I can do 300 on the squat rack, but when it comes down to hack squats with 100 on each side it just kills my knees going up. I go all the way down on the range of motion. Is that it?

 

[Robboe]

I get knee pains on the hack machine, but it only seems to occur when i lock out, so i just keep constant tension on the muscle. Prolly better actually, but it means there's no possible rest reps for rob.

Have you tried adjusting your footing?

 

[Mudge]

Try monitoring your foot position.

 

[Triple Threat]

Also make sure that your heels are staying flat on the platform. If you rise up on your toes, you can stress the knees.

 

[Scotty the Body]

I find the same thing if I don't do a good warm up on it, same goes for the extensions.
My second set always feels better.

 

[EarWax]

Scotty, yeah I did a pretty weak warm up before I began... could be it. Thanks.

CaptainDeadlift, hmmm I didn't examine if my heels were staying down, but I think they were... maybe... errr... better go check, thanks.

Mudge, that is the variable I have been adjusting, but nothing seems to work on that... knees feel like a walnut between a nutcracker no matter what position my feet are in, thanks though.

TCD, yeah, I do lock out at the top... I bet that's the problem, I'll try it without locking out on Friday and I don't think I'll have a problem remembering to breathe! Thanks.

So I'll not lock out, make sure my heels are down, and warm up better. Thanks for all the great suggestions dudes!

 

[MONSTER4X4]

Hack Squats produce excessive shearing forces on the knee joint. I really advise that you not do them if you have bad knees. Foot placement I don't think will really help due to the way a hack machine is designed. I'd stick with regular squats or leg presses.

 

[EarWax]

Thanks for the advice Monster. Yeah, I never had trouble with my knees until hack squats. No worries, just 1 more week of the shearing forces on my knees and then back to the normal routine of squat rack mania. Just trying something different.

 

[MONSTER4X4]

I'm in the same boat...I have bad knees too (no mcl or acl in left knee). and I recently added hacks in place of leg presses to my routine about 2 weeks ago for a different feel. I have to watch it closely and be sure to maintain my groove. So far I haven't had any discomfort in the knees...just the quads, I got a serious case of delayed onset soreness...

 

[MONSTER4X4]

I don't take my own advice, I just noticed...haha

 

[EarWax]

LOL, yeah I just wanted to mix it up a bit. Normal squats were getting kind of stale and I thought the hack squats would be an interesting change. I get the same onset soreness now on the hack squats too. My quads are usually pretty tight and sore come the next two days. Damn it feels great!

 

[MONSTER4X4]

Yeah I love it...except for when nature calls you to your throne

 

[EarWax]

LOL... so true... !