Many people enjoy squats but experience discomfort or pain during the movement.
Whether you should keep squatting depends on the cause of your pain.
The barbell squat boosts strength, but poor hip, ankle, or back mobility, underactive glutes, or a weak core can make it challenging.
Seeing a qualified coach can help pinpoint and address these deficits, allowing you to improve flexibility or strength where it's lacking.
If no clear issue is found, experimenting with foot placement or range of motion might help, while other times single-leg exercises are necessary to correct imbalances.
Acute, sharp pain (rated 5 or above out of 10) means it's time to stop and reassess.
Training below that threshold can still offer strength benefits and teach safe, mindful movement.
Removing squats entirely may worsen underlying weaknesses instead of fixing them.
Proper guidance helps you move safely, build strength, and prevent future pain.