-
i squat with the pad (at least i'm squatting!!)...don't really give a crap what anyone says or think. to me you're more of a pussy to be peer pressured into not using one than to do what's right for your body. i've had a couple of trainers check my bar position and it still sucks with no pad. everyone's built differently and my bony-ass shoulders would rather see the pad.
-
[QUOTE=vata07;675391121]i squat with the pad (at least i'm squatting!!)...don't really give a crap what anyone says or think. to me you're more of a pussy to be peer pressured into not using one than to do what's right for your body. i've had a couple of trainers check my bar position and it still sucks with no pad. everyone's built differently and my bony-ass shoulders would rather see the pad.[/QUOTE]
OK. But for me it's not peer pressure, its that the bar feels MUCH more stable with the bar against my skin, and that's pretty important if you're trying to squat 700 pounds. Acutally I don't think you're a pussy for using the pad, especially if you've tried it without and you have a valid reason for using the pad.
-
[QUOTE=dtrryan;674942561]You may have developed a myositis ossificans, or a periostial bone bruise, or you may even have osteomylitis (serious bone infection). That area is in relationship to the 3-5 Thoracic spinous processes. Those spinous processes are more angled as you go below T3 in most people, but yours might be different. You need an x-ray to determine what's up.
You aren't being a whip, your being stupid if you don't seek medical help. I've had over 1100 pounds on a bar on my back and never had that reaction. So something isn't correct here. It would appear that you still have that bar too high on your back. It should touch your rear delts when you squat.
Here is an article to help get the rest of you positioned correctly.
Please get an x-ray.
If it is an infection, since this is an international publication website. You need to know that anaboic steriods make you resistant to antibiotics and also prednisone. Discountinue the use of AS and use Oil of Evening Primrose to clear out your system. It is possible that if you are using the wrong AS, this has weakened your bone structure and is allowing you to become susceptable to this type of injury. A blood test will help determine the truth.
Please google: Dr. David Ryan Squats for the article on BB.com.[/QUOTE]
thankyou for your very helpful reply..... i will check out with my doctor as a few of you have advised me too .
im quite fine as regards to AS as i have never actually used the stuff .ive always wondered what i would look like if i did but im a very lean 182lb and looking to gain hopefully another three by the end of the year . its painfully slow gains but theyre mine.
update to my lump on my back .... trained legs moderate today . i skipped squatts for a change and did leg press , stiff leg deads , leg exts, and lunges. got a good pump but most important i did not agravate the neck .
also the inflamation is down a tad and the localised pain i get after squatts has gone ., which is usually the norm by midweek. i will squatt heavy sunday BUT try this lower bar position and looking forward to it .
will keep updating and thanks again to you all for taking your time to helpfully reply and give some great answers and comments.
-
I have been squatting on and off for 2 years and have always used padding or a towel. The stress and red marks I get from hitting 405lbs on my traps just aren't worth it, especially if u are rockin a Tank Top, No go homie. Spend the 15 and get the pads, Modell's u can get em for bout $17 incld tax.
-
I'm with Ox on this. The bar is way too high.
Using a pad makes the bar unstable. The bar should actually be making contact primarily on your rear delts with only minor contact on your upper mid back.
Where I train, we call them "tampons" because they prevent the vaginas from bleeding everywhere.
-
[QUOTE=dtrryan;674943711]This is correct placement of the bar, but the person squating has their head down and that exposes the spinous process to futher injury and also shifts the weight anterior and that is a no no. Please look up to GOD when you squat, he helps you and the floor isn't going anywhere.[/QUOTE]
I should have said that. Thank you for catching it.
-
[QUOTE=bigtallox;675409901]OK. But for me it's not peer pressure, its that the bar feels MUCH more stable with the bar against my skin, and that's pretty important if you're trying to squat 700 pounds. Acutally I don't think you're a pussy for using the pad, especially if you've tried it without and you have a valid reason for using the pad.[/QUOTE]
^^ This. I've never felt even the slightest bit of discomfort when squatting without a pad -- but if you are experiencing pain, and altering the bar placement doesn't help, then by all means use the pad. Remember, squats are meant to work your legs and promote overall strength development .... that happens whether you are using the pad or not.
OP -- Just to echo what some of the other posters said .... Get that lump looked at.....Better safe than sorry.
-
I've never been able to get used to using the pad. I'm another who feels it places the bar in a position that just doesn't feel stable. There is a "sweet spot" where I place the bar and it doesn't hurt, because the weight is spread across the entire width of my shoulders, so fooling around with different placement is not really an option, however. It hurts too much if I don't put the bar where it just seems to "fit".
-
First, I commend you for not using a pad, those are for pussy's and will through off the mechanics of your squat.
Didn't read the thread, first thing that came to my mind was to squat low bar. Get that checked out if you haven't already.
-
[QUOTE=gbg;676142161]First, I commend you for not using a pad, those are for pussy's and will through off the mechanics of your squat.
Didn't read the thread, first thing that came to my mind was to squat low bar. Get that checked out if you haven't already.[/QUOTE]pussy's
through
Too general of a statement and doesn't apply to everyone.
-
[QUOTE=Tyrbolift;676143661]pussy's
through
Too general of a statement and doesn't apply to everyone.[/QUOTE]
Nope, just to piussy's.
Depending on the thickness of the pad it artificially raises your center of gravity and it increases the chance of the bar rolling because less of the bar is on your back.
If you can't squat technically correct maybe you should stick to leg presses.
:)
-
[QUOTE=gbg;676144381]Nope, just to piussy's.
Depending on the thickness of the pad it artificially raises your center of gravity and it increases the chance of the bar rolling because less of the bar is on your back.
If you can't squat technically correct maybe you should stick to leg presses.
:)[/QUOTE]You're not usually so self-righteous, insulting and condescending. Bad day? :)
-
[QUOTE=Tyrbolift;676144951]You're not usually so self-righteous, insulting and condescending. Bad day? :)[/QUOTE]
No, I just hate those dam pads. :D
-
The pad does nothing but mess me up. Nothing but interference.
-
If you're using a pad or a towel............. you're doing it wrong.
Enough said........
-
I use the Manta Ray pad and love it.
-
[QUOTE=Mayze;676167541]I use the Manta Ray pad and love it.[/QUOTE]
So did Dr. Fred Hatfield. He seemed to know what he was doing in regards to squatting. He said, "Why not use something which makes squatting more comfortable." (paraphrase)
IMO, unless it creates a situation where you gain some type of unfair advantage in the hobby/sport of weight lifting, what is to be gained (unless your form is compromised, or you run the risk f some injury)) by adding 1/4 inch worth of padding, other than not having your neck/back being in unnecessary pain.
If someone thinks it somehow makes them tougher, well, I just have to chuckle at that.
-
[QUOTE=Brackneyc;676170251]So did Dr. Fred Hatfield. He seemed to know what he was doing in regards to squatting. He said, "Why not use something which makes squatting more comfortable." (paraphrase)
IMO, unless it creates a situation where you gain some type of unfair advantage in the hobby/sport of weight lifting, what is to be gained (unless your form is compromised, or you run the risk f some injury)) by adding 1/4 inch worth of padding, other than not having your neck/back being in unnecessary pain.
If someone thinks it somehow makes them tougher, well, I just have to chuckle at that.[/QUOTE]That's just it exactly for me. Proper form, proper execution, focus, intensity...these are what's important to get the best results from your training.
Why not have a weight load placed on the body that won't distract you.
And as far as "balance", I see zero problem. Use the rings on the bar for even spacing of hands---and put your hands more apart. That will solve a lot of your side to side balance issues by giving more leverage to the arms to feel and control the bb.
-
oh my....these squat squabbles....the purists vs the realists....
the problem essentially always comes to this: some people simply cannot understand that the venerable squat means DIFFERENT things to DIFFERENT people....
not everyone is trying to set records with their squats...some people cheat to get the weight up and some people get the weight up without cheating, and then, there really are some people out there who do not cheat, AND do not wish to push their backs and knees to the breaking point with this movement.
everyone is entitled to what THEY want out of it.....
so, for the umpteenth time, and certainly not the last, the bar I use:
[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/Drbass2/im-0210a.gif[/IMG]
which allows me to squat in complete comfort, which is fine for MY method, which is bare inches above the ground in the lowest position, with Zero bounce, and ZERO momentum and a great full stretch of all the ligaments.....
with it's consequent lightening of the weight involved, of which numbers, I couldn't give a flying FK about.....
-
[QUOTE=Brackneyc;676170251]So did Dr. Fred Hatfield. He seemed to know what he was doing in regards to squatting. He said, "Why not use something which makes squatting more comfortable." (paraphrase)
IMO, unless it creates a situation where you gain some type of unfair advantage in the hobby/sport of weight lifting, what is to be gained (unless your form is compromised, or you run the risk f some injury)) by adding 1/4 inch worth of padding, other than not having your neck/back being in unnecessary pain.
If someone thinks it somehow makes them tougher, well, I just have to chuckle at that.[/QUOTE]
Padding or no padding, it's all about personal preferences.
I try to avoid being a purist, assuming there is only one correct way to properly execute an exercise.
-
[QUOTE=JerryB;676177981]Padding or no padding, it's all about personal preferences.
I try to avoid being a purist, assuming there is only one correct way to properly execute an exercise.[/QUOTE]
I see all sides on this. Personally, I used to use the pad. I also only used to do smith machine squats too. That said, once I learned where to correctly position the bar. I used to have the bar directly across the c6-c8 area. The result was a lot of discomfort, and frankly, I had to use the pad because there's not much meat on that part of the neck.
Now, I squat with the bar just above the tops of my scapulae on the "shelf" created by pinching my shoulders back (just at the base of traps). I can squat without a shirt now. It makes no difference in comfort. I can go lower, lift more weight and my balance is much better. I encourage anyone who hates the pain of squatting to play around with bar position to find what works best. Squats don't have to hurt.
I'm not the definitive expert on this at all. I just know that moving the bar a measly 2.5" made a world of difference for me and my ability to squat.
[img]http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/uploads/spine.jpg[/img]
Low Bar position.
[img]https://slcache.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/squat-bar-position.jpg[/img]
Fantastic article on squats regarding positioning from Mark Rippetoe. To quote Mark Rippetoe:
[quote]The fact is that most people want to squat with the bar on their traps and not down lower on the back, especially if no one suggests otherwise. And that would be fine, except that it doesn’t work as well.[/quote]
[url]http://startingstrength.com/articles/squat_rippetoe.pdf[/url]
-
[QUOTE=JOHN GARGANI;676177541] so, for the umpteenth time, and certainly not the last, the bar I use:
[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/Drbass2/im-0210a.gif[/IMG]
which allows me to squat in complete comfort, which is fine for MY method, which is bare inches above the ground in the lowest position, with Zero bounce, and ZERO momentum and a great full stretch of all the ligaments.....
with it's consequent lightening of the weight involved, of which numbers, I couldn't give a flying FK about.....[/QUOTE]
The pads on that don't count as pads because they have to be there.
Personally, I love the safety squat bar. I especially like it to use when I have to train around an injury. Because of it, I was able to squat with a broken hand, sprained rotator cuff, and all sorts of other injuries that would have made it difficult to squat on a straight bar. Front squats with the SS bar are incredible.
That said, it's a tool in your tool box, but not the only method you should employ. You know, variety is the spice of life and all that stuff.
-
I squat without simply because it feels better. If you like the pad, then go for it.
-
[QUOTE=drudixon;676193891]
Low Bar position.
[img]https://slcache.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/squat-bar-position.jpg[/img]
Fantastic article on squats regarding positioning from Mark Rippetoe. To quote Mark Rippetoe:
[url]http://startingstrength.com/articles/squat_rippetoe.pdf[/url]
[/QUOTE]
I prefer to position the bar high to squat with a more upright trunk. This puts the emphasis of the squat on my quadriceps. That’s the purpose for my squats. I’m not squatting for powerlifting.
If I’m doing it wrong, then Tom Platz must had been squatting 500 pounds wrong too.
[youtube]Y7ouQbZSheg&playnext=1&list=PLC3275F2461FAE544[/youtube]
Tony Platz squatting with padding
[youtube]ltip6eOwFRo&feature=related[/youtube]
-
Nothing comes between my back and the bar.
Thanks.
-
[QUOTE=freebirdmac;673591561]What if you switched to front squats for awhile, let the area rest, then try back squats again paying attention to the above poster's suggestion?[/QUOTE]
This is actually a very good suggestion. Front squats, done in good form, do not place as much stress on lower back. I didn't read the response from others, but you could also add deadlift to your routine.
As far as your question, I never use pad because it will throw off the center of gravity.
-
[QUOTE=JOHN GARGANI;676177541]
so, for the umpteenth time, and certainly not the last, the bar I use:
[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/Drbass2/im-0210a.gif[/IMG]
which allows me to squat in complete comfort, which is fine for MY method, which is bare inches above the ground in the lowest position, with Zero bounce, and ZERO momentum and a great full stretch of all the ligaments.....
with it's consequent lightening of the weight involved, of which numbers, I couldn't give a flying FK about.....[/QUOTE]
The safety squat bar is a great tool. It puts the weight out in front, making the movement feel similar to a front squat. My old gym had a SSB, I miss it.
-
It is funny listening to all the squabbles. I squat with a pad....and am far from a pussy. For me, the pad makes it quite stable, avoiding point loads and spreading the weight out evenly. It also keeps me from having blood up under my skin from the bar on heavier days. If that makes me a pussy...guess I am one! One thing to note....when I carried more bodyfat, 15-17%, squatting without a pad was more comfortable. As I get leaner 10% range, the pad is more comfortable.
All this macho stuff is laughable. I have respect for anyone working out and squatting. If a pad works well for you, use it. Don't worry about people who criticize. In the end...they are usually the people who spend too much time worrying about what everyone else is doing and will never be happy with ANYTHING...including themselves. Heck if we were really hardcore we should all just lift rubble and timber!....etc
Have fun. Be healthy and to each his own. People are sometimes so closed minded they forget we all have different goals. Good luck!
-
I've learned so much from these forums and website since I started lurking in 2004. I didn't do squats or deadz as an adult until 2005 and was pretty much only doing leg presses, extensions and curls for my legs. We used to do squats and deadz in my high school weight training and wrestling classes but that was decades ago and they had a pad on the bar.
When I first bought my power rack, the first thing I did was bring home a small piece of pipe insulation from work to use as a pad. I just wrapped it with one of the hand wraps I use for boxing. Then I joined 24 hour fitness and started working out at the boxing gym and some places had pads on the bar and others didn't. I also took 2 semesters of weight training at San Diego City College and they didn't have a pad, but used one of those Manta Ray deals posted above and I really liked it. Not enough to actually buy one, but it was pretty comfortable.
Just recently, I started squatting without the pad at home and I'm using a slightly lower bar position than I had been in the past. I've got to say that it's the most comfortable and secure I've felt squatting.
Right now I’m looking at improving my leg strength as much as possible and I have been having people check my form and depth and anything else I can think of. Right now I’m going as low as I can go, which is in this picture below. Pad or no pad seems like a personal preference to me. My question is how the hell do I get my ass lower to the ground? I was reading the other thread about squatting with your feet together and I’ve tried it with some light weight and my heels end up coming off the ground. I don’t know how some people get as low as they do.
Pin #7
[img]http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/img/user_images/growable/2011/04/21/77439/progresspic/1juEdd6DP48u2bQF6eJ7dLjn79I0121.jpeg[/img]
-
little update..... visited my doc yesterday and he is refering me for a scan . he said an x ray wouldnt realy show much . prob wont get scanned for a number of weeks though .
thanks again for the further helpful replies . most appreciated and will get around to repping you all soon but an only able to give so many reps a day.