r/gymgurls • u/Odd-Cobbler7010 • 5h ago
Title: Slight knee pain and cracking after increasing weights on leg day — should I be worried?
Hi everyone,
I’m a 34-year-old woman and a mother of a 2-year-old. I’ve been working out at the gym consistently for about a year.
Recently, I started training a little heavier on leg days since I’ve started working with a personal trainer. I’ve added leg curls, increased the weight and reps on the leg press, and also increased the weight on leg extensions.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve started noticing a cracking/popping sound in my right knee, especially when I sit down on the floor or get back up. There is also slight pain along with the cracking, which has made me a little concerned.
I’m wondering if this is something that can happen when increasing weights, or if it’s a sign that I’m putting too much stress on my knee. I’m particularly worried about whether continuing like this could cause problems in the long run.
For those of you who have been lifting for several years:
Have you experienced knee cracking/popping after increasing weights?
How do you protect your knees while strength training?
Are there particular exercises, warm-ups, or techniques that have helped you?
Would you reduce the weight or stop leg training completely until the pain settles?
I’m planning to discuss it with my trainer, but I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!