Is weightlifting good or bad for your knees?

Question

Im an 18 yr old basketball player looking to increase my vertical leap....so ive always had weak, creaky knees
so i hit the weights, ive been doing leg press, leg extension, leg curls, and calf raises.
When i get outta the weightroom though my knees seem worse than they were before and the ligaments feel all "weird"(for lack of a better word). I think the leg press might be the culprit...but ive been assured that the best way to help weak knees is to lift the muscles around them. Is leg press and other lower body weight lifting good or bad for your knees?

Answer 1

When there is a weakness in the knees you'll have to be really careful, as you're finding out, the wrong exercise can make them worse, and it looks as if you still want to play basketball. I would hold off on doing any more leg extensions. The curls, and calf raises are good, strengthening all the muscles around the knee is necessary, this is true. The leg extension is the one I am concerned about the most because as you are straightening the leg, all the pressure is on the knee, with weight. The leg press would be alright as long aw your feet are far enough forward and your glutes are not going down beyond the knees. Is this a laying down leg press? There are several different kinds.
You might want to lay off for several days doing quad work and see how your knees feel. Another way to work them is to get a ball, put it up against the wall and do squats with it holding weights, this is very effective for bad knee areas. The angle seems to be better for most people, but try this after your knees have had a rest.....
The bottom line? If it hurts or aggravates-don't do it......

Answer 2

I wonder why your doing leg extensions, leg curls and calf raises? These extra exercises are probably only complicating your problem.( making your knees sore)..and are doing nothing to increase your vertical leap.
The leg press can be a demanding mistress at times...
I I know exactly what you mean when you wrote that your knees feel all weird afterward.
I would suggest that you don't straighten out your legs...use less weight and don't go down so deep in the decline position.
You desire explosive power...which is done with a faster motion..powerlifters don't hold for a count..don't rest..
perhaps I can suggest an alternative exercise like the jump squat..you load a bar with a light weight..squat..but then jump out of it into the air..repeat..
lighter weight will be easier on your knees

Answer 3

Maybe your are lifting too much, weight lifting with the legs strenghten the leg muscles so it's good for you. You might have a torn ligament and never got it fixed. If I were you I'd see a doctor about your knees. You might need therapy.

Answer 4

Have an experienced 'trainer' teach you how to lift properly as poor technique can certainly be bad for you especially if you decide to try squats or deadlifts some day.

Answer 5

I'll say it like it is, I'm white I play basketball and can't really jump that high, one way to improve your jump is to do heavy weight squats, which for me as a 14 year old body builder is probably a little more than you might want to do. You need to drink a lot of milk and have strong bones. I do squats with 450, yes 450 pounds. If you just put that on the bar and tried to squat it your knees would snap and you would most likely break you back. Start doing squats at a low weight and your knees will get stronger.