Squatting with Perthes Disease

[Justinnnnnn]

Hi Mark, I have a friend who wants to start squatting but she had Perthes deisease as a child

"Initially, there is a temporary loss of blood supply to the ball-shaped end of the femoral head. The lost blood supply causes the ball to soften and collapse. This collapse causes the round femoral head to become flattened or deformed like a mushroom. It no longer fits perfectly in its socket. In fact, as it heals, it may even grow outside the socket"

She is 21 so the bone is not soft anymore but it is misshapen. She can walk and run fine, but squatting causes her quite bad hip and (referred) knee pain, also she just can't squat to the right depth or in the right shape because of so much pain.

I'm guessing there is no answer and she is just fucked. But any suggestions you might have would be helpful, especially if you've trained someone with this condition before? Thanks

[Mark Rippetoe]

I don't think she should squat. I see no reason to chew her acetabulum to pieces and make a hip replacement necessary at this age. Deadlifts will probably be okay.

[Jonathon Sullivan]

+1