Squash · General information
Knee pain from squash lunges: what helps, and when to get it checked
Squash asks for a lot of lunges. Pain at the front of the knee that builds over days or weeks is often an overload problem, sometimes in the tendon just under the kneecap. It is not the only cause. Sports Medicine Australia lists knee injuries among the most common in squash.[1] A sudden twist, a pop, and a knee that swells quickly is a different injury and needs urgent advice.[2]
What people often notice
- Pain at the front of the knee, sometimes in one spot under the kneecap.
- Stairs, a deep lunge, or getting out of a low chair bother it.
- It may ease once you are warm, then feel worse after play or the next morning.
Those are patterns, not a diagnosis.
What the NHS suggests first
For ordinary knee pain, the NHS suggests putting as little weight through the knee as you can, including not standing for a long time, and a wrapped ice pack for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.[2] Do not put ice on bare skin. See a doctor if the pain has not improved within a few weeks.[2]
Tendon-type pain often needs a graded return to load rather than endless rest, but the right amount is individual. This page does not set a pain score, a number of lunges, or a strength program. A clinician who has seen how you move should do that.
- The knee is very painful, or you cannot move it or put weight on it.
- It is badly swollen or has changed shape.
- It locks, gives way, or clicks painfully. A painless click can be normal.
- You have a high temperature, or you feel hot, cold, or shivery, and the knee is red or hot.
Frequently asked questions
Is front-of-knee pain always the patellar tendon?
No. Repeated lunges can irritate the tendon under the kneecap, and they can also irritate other structures. A clinician has to sort out which one it is.
When is knee pain urgent?
The NHS says to get advice now if the knee is very painful, you cannot move it or put weight on it, it is badly swollen or has changed shape, it locks or gives way, or it is hot and red with a fever.[2]
Lunging starting to hurt?
A virtual visit can look at the load and how you move. This article is not a program for your knee.
Book a visitSources
Keep reading
This article is general education. It is not a diagnosis, a clinical review, or a treatment plan for you. A clinician who can assess you is the right person to decide what is safe. In an emergency, call 911.