ATG Squats and clicking/cracking knee sound... how to fix it?
I decided to try a different way to do my squats, as a powerlifter I've got to go way below parallel, especially when it comes to do snatch and squat clean. A few of my mates warned me they are very bad for the knees but I didn't care. I have a meet in July and seriously want to do well.
I started doing the ATGs in mid february and really improved my pb on those (now squatting 80 kg for 5 reps, with great form, which is quite awesome within a month and a half for me).
However, one day, I went to the gym, didn't have my earphones on me and started squatting as low as I could and noticed my knees were cracking. I'm so glad I didn't have the earphones on, I wouldn't have ever noticed! The noise is cringing, I
swear I'm so embarassed by it. I usually don't care what people around me think or say but that noise of clicking bone is so uneasy, it really ruin my motivation and I'm sure other peeps feel for my joints, lol.
I eat salmon and cod twice a week, take fish oil and flaxeed everyday, glucosamine twice a day.
I'm now really worried to squat heavier than I am as I fear to damage my knees much more and the noise really is embarassing. It's okay when the music in the free weights area is quite loud but when is quieter, you can hear that cringing noise. Never had this prob when I used to do normal squats :(
Do you think my mates were right about the ATGs or I'm not using the proper form? Do I need to increase my intake of glucosamine and fish oil, eat fish more etc?
Or just stop ATG squatting (though really don't want to). I heard Knee extension (KTE or something like that) are quite good -- shall I do those before my squats? (my knees are also starting to hurt a bit when I sit back, very low with the weights on my shoulders)...
Arthritis??
Thanks in advance for the advices.