strain behind knees when doing bent over rows ?

[yzf600_11]

Is it normal to feel some strain/stretching behind the knees when doing bent over rows? It feels like i'm hyperextending them, but I awlays keep them slightly bent.

It doesn't hurt or cause any pains afterwards...am I just not bending them enough?

[djnorris]

Sounds like you are hitting some hamstrings when you are doing rows. This most likely means you are moving your back while performing this lift. Just one time lighten the weight up and watch yourself in the mirror while diong a few sets. If you have good form, and the back of your knees still hurt, at least you know its not b/c you're doing the exercise wrong. Now you can feel good about pushing past the pain.

[syoung]

The strain behind your knees could be from tight hamstrings, tight posterior capsule, or tight gastrocnemious. To test, do the rows with:

Put a 10 pound plate under each heel. If the pain goes away it's your Gastroc (calf)

With no weight in your hand, tuck you rbutt in (i.e. round your lower back). If the pain goes away, it's your hastring.

If neither helps it may be the capsule or internal structures. If either options increases pain, you shoulde stretch your hamstrings and calfs.

[yzf600_11]

I guess i just need to stretch before I do them from now on

I can do them with perfect form....back straight, without moving.
I tried the plates under my heels and I felt much less tightness.

thanks

[syoung]

no problem. We should start a rehab thread and have qualified people help those to avoid injuries. I've treated soooo many lifters and people in general. Many of them could have easily avoided their injuries with proper assessment, early diagnosis, and posture training. My best advise for everyone is stop looking in the mirror when you train and learn to feel the muscles instead of seeing the muscles. Let members of the opposite sex look, but keep the feeling to yourself. (I'm leaving that totally open for numerous jokes)