Ligament in knee tracks funny when doing back squats

[Sylva]

So the ligament where the red x is in the picure seems to track directly over the bone on the side of my leg where the white dot is.

What I mean is when I squat down the ligament moves down and passes over the "bump" or bone on the side of my leg. It only does this if I try to go much further than parallel, I've been squatting to parallel and having no problems.

Is this normal, I don't think it is, but it's not causing me any discomfort either.

Sorry for the pic, best I could find here at work.

If it's nothing to worry about, just say so. I've just had knee issues in the past and would like to avoid them if possible.

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/3954/squatvz3.jpg

[IliekFude]

Might be tendonitis causing inflamation and making the tendon track wrong. Is it swollen and painful to the touch when its causing probs? I had this in the tendon that runs over or near the inside ball shaped bone of the wrist under the thumb. The tendon would flare up, swell and roll over the ball back n forth until i rested it, iced it - used ibprofen b4 workouts and uhh.. stopped playing squash. Dont ask.

[Pixie]

Reason for going further than parallel? I know some do it for Oly lifting, some do it for leg strength... just asking. I mean, if there's a good reason (i.e. must go that low for sport) then ok. If there's no reason, then just stay at parallel... maybe.

Also, if it's not causing pain or discomfort, as you said, then I wouldn't worry about it too much. Ice it if there appears to be any swelling, heat or redness. If the feeling changes (i.e. pain or discomfort, or not snapping back), then you might want to consider getting it checked.

I will add that I have a tendon in my wrist that doesn't track properly when I bench. Almost sounds similar to your knee. For me, my tendon simply isn't in the proper anatomical groove anymore (result from a car accident). The doctor said there wasn't anything he could do about it and result in a permanent fix. They could snap the tendon back into it's anatomical groove through surgery, but there was no guarantee that it'd stay there, and more likely that it wouldn't.

[Sylva]

Thanks for the replies guys.

It's not causing me any discomfort at all, so I'm not to worried about it. Was just kind of curious if anyone had anything similar or knew what it was. I'll just continue going to parallel and not worry about it.

As far as being out of the anatomical grove, I'm sure years of BJJ doing stuff like rubber guard and working guard all the time are less than stellar for knee health. lol

[IliekFude]

I find it harder to stop at parallel rather then to go below it. Maybe im odd.

[Halfway]

I'd guess IT band tightness.. but do you ever do quad shots? (scar tissue build up there can cause horrible issues years down the road)

If it is then deep tissue work and stretching, and of course ART

[Killer]

If is not causing any discomfort at all, I would watch it but, but not worry about it that much.

As an ortho I use to work with would tell atheltes - "We are not going to to go looking for problems."