I believe it. For example, when I squat heavy, I have no issues with the movement and no lingering knee issues afterwards. If I go light cause I'm lazy and don't feel like lifting heavy, the movement feels awkward and I have knee pain for days and have trouble getting up from sitting.
If you have any knee pain, take it easy or take the day off.
Your symptoms sound almost exactly like mine 11 months ago. For those who didn't know, I tore two quadriceps tendons and completely ruptured one at the gym doing leg presses. I was using weights that I normally used. I had 11 plates a side (which I did for 8 reps the previous week). I wasn't feeling strong and a tad tired.
So I decided to "take it easy" and that set with 11 plates would be my last. I was going to stop at 5 reps; the rupture occurred at rep 4. Surgery and being in a locked leg brace for a month absolutely SUCKED.
