Do your knees cave in when you squat? Try these three exercise physiologist-approved moves

Woman performing a shallow squat on a black exercise mat in a living room setting. there's a sofa behind her.

If your knees tend to cave in during squats or split squats, there could be an often-overlooked culprit: a weak gluteus medius.

The gluteus medius is one of three big muscles in your buttocks, sitting at the side of your hip. It helps to stabilize your pelvis, hips and legs, especially during weight-bearing movements like squats, lunges and even walking.