I never figured out how to squat without hurting my knees. I think I am supposed to keep them behind the toe line and I do, but still knees hurt next day. So I don't really squat...
Yes, keeping the knees just above and not beyond the toes is a good practice. You essentially extend your butt backward and lean your torso somewhat forward while keeping your back straight. I may be mistaken, but I don't think there a need to go lower than parallel. Were you also keeping your knees aligned with your feet, pointing in exactly the same direction with no deviation? That is, that your knees were not pointed either more outward or inward than your toes.
below parallel, too easy to screw up lower back. probably my ass rolling under, anatomically hard not to.
I rarely even do squats anymore. Leg presses just feel way safer, especially as the weight increases.
I stopped doing barbell squats in 2005, in my ~mid-40s because I like to go all out and I figured that if any exercise was going to do me in, it would be the squat. I didn't have any trouble with it at the time, but I decided to err on the side of caution.
interesting, its certainly the one thing i never actually feel like doing without forcing myself. although i never go to failure but close. the good news, my quads look nice.
Quarter squats are Quad exercises, u´re probaby missing gains on ischios and glutes rather than quads. I used to be a big squat fan, had a hard time breaking parallel, it depends on one´s mobility and the weight on the bar. I stopped lifting altogether , didn´t just give up on squat, and stayed pretty big btw doing grappling and juicing some. If you reach parralel u should be seeing all around gains, heavy squats put a big strain on the whole body, great stuff