If you have bad knees the problem is usually near the center of the joint, particularly for OA problems. So think about it.....when you do a squat you are actually rotating the contact point into (possibly) better cartilage and bone. Hard on the knees? I guess to a point. But a squat utilizes the quads pulling tight across the patellar tendon to lever yourself up.

I did a years worth of squats before a knee replacement at age 59, three years past. I do squats all the time for warmup prior to swimming. My usual warmup is 20 - 35# kettle bell swings followed by 5 goblet squats x 2, then 20 -45# swings followed by 5 goblet squats x 2. If my knees are feeling creaky I do box squats, squatting to a box with a couple of plates on top, i.e, until my femur is horizontal and no further.

I used a bar for years but now have a torn rotator cuff, which makes it difficult to hold the bar. On a suggestion from a trainer about equipment I bought a cambered safety squat (or yoke) bar and donated it to our wellness center (part of our local hospital). Now I squat with it. FWIW, it is the only way to go for squats. It makes it very simple to control and to unload if needed. And the camber with the weight out front means you can use less weight and achieve the effect. I only WISH I could use the plates you see in the photo.



IMHO, if you can't squat at least half your body weight (or more) someday you won't be able to get up off the floor.