Slight knee pain: Normal or a warning sign?

[Jr_Geezer]

Let me start off by answering my own question that I’ll be asking below: “Set up a session with a coach to be sure your form is good.”

Bit of background: 53 y.o. male, 188 lbs, 5’10”. Read through SS:BBT and started my LP last September, current numbers are squat 270, deadlift 290, bench 155, press 110 (not doing cleans).

Now I know aches and pains are a part of life and training, especially as I approach geezerhood. For example, I tweaked my lower back slightly doing deadlifts a bit over a month ago. I got some advice on the forums here and listened to Rip’s podcast on back pain and somewhat skeptically took the advice to work through the pain, concentrating on good form and keeping everything tight. Damned if it didn’t work. Took a couple of sessions and lots of Ibuprofen, but the pain is completely gone and my back is as good as ever. I mention this to show that I’m not really worried about training through a bit of pain.

My concern now is the slight pain I feel in my knees; anterior, centered around the kneecap. It’s not much, just noticeable when, for example, going down stairs. Doesn't interfere with my workouts, or daily life really, at all. My question is how do I know this is not a warning sign of possible damage further down the road rather than a normal and expected response to training? I've submitted a few squat form videos and gotten some feedback and I think I have incorporated the advice and have reasonable form.

Thanks in advance.
-Rob

[Kyle Schuant]

I find that most people who teach themselves from the books go too deep, don't keep tight at the bottom, thus rounding their lower back and let their knees slide back and forth. Thus, the hamstrings don't pull their share of the load, and all the force goes through the front of the knee. And I find front knee pain is usually associated with that sort of movement in the squat. This is generally fixed in ten minutes in person.

So you have given the correct answer to your own question. Failing that... video.