Which way do your toes point when you squat?

[store]

I was at therapy yesterday and my therapist asked to see my squat form, so I get set up and I do an air squat. He said, "Do you usually have your toes pointing out?" I said, "Yea, otherwise I don't get low enough." He told me I am only going to hit my quads if I do it like that. He showed me how to do it with my toes forward, but my hamstrings are so tight I can't get low enough without leaning forward. I found out my technique is really off.

Which way do your toes point when you squat?

[someonefat]

slightly out for most people

If you can't squat with good form with toes forward don't do it, if you have fine technique with toes slightly out keep doing it that way. Takes some really good flexibility to have toes forward.

[store]

Okay. Yea I always pointed my toes out just so I could get low enough.

[lifterg]

depends on stance width.
If you draw a line down your femur, it should extend straight through your feet.

[TrettinR]

Why would you listen to your therapist about squatting unless he himself is a powerlifter?

[ShutUpAndSquat]

**** your therapist, he probably squats with his knees drifting forward too. your toes should always be pointing out at either a 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock angle

[vicjg]

I was at therapy yesterday and my therapist asked to see my squat form, so I get set up and I do an air squat. He said, "Do you usually have your toes pointing out?" I said, "Yea, otherwise I don't get low enough." He told me I am only going to hit my quads if I do it like that. He showed me how to do it with my toes forward, but my hamstrings are so tight I can't get low enough without leaning forward. I found out my technique is really off.

Which way do your toes point when you squat?

A quick smack to the back of your therapist's neck might be in order.


Just sayin

[RyHam]

Funny I squat with my toes pointed out, and the next day my hamstrings are f*cking obliterated. "Only hit your quads" my ass.

[DuracellBunny]

It varies depending on what stance I am taking (anywhere from 5 to 45 degrees from straight forward). As long as the line that your knee travels along is the same as the direction your foot is pointing in, there is a limit to how far you can go wrong.

The one piece of wisdom that probably lies at the heart of what your therapist is telling you is that the wider the squat is, the more hamstring involvement and the narrower it is, the more your feet point forward. That principle may have become distorted over time with the therapist.

If you are squatting with feet straight forward, yes you will tend to use less hamstring, but that is only because you are probably squatting with a narrower stance.

[koyongi]

A resounding "Don't listen to the therapist."

Your toes should point whichever direction your knees are pointing. If you're taking a very narrow stance, your toes should point forward or very close to it (this will incorporate your quads more). The wider your stance, the farther out your toes should go (wider stances equal more hamstring and glute work). However, if you try to squat with a wide stance and your toes forward, you are going to create some hellacious torque in your knees, and probably open yourself up to injury.

Maybe your therapist is working on his job security?

[Torrtrefireto]

**** your therapist, he probably squats with his knees drifting forward too. your toes should always be pointing out at either a 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock angle

Gotta get the other foot too 1 or 2, and 11 or 10 respectively

A resounding "Don't listen to the therapist."

Your toes should point whichever direction your knees are pointing. If you're taking a very narrow stance, your toes should point forward or very close to it (this will incorporate your quads more). The wider your stance, the farther out your toes should go (wider stances equal more hamstring and glute work). However, if you try to squat with a wide stance and your toes forward, you are going to create some hellacious torque in your knees, and probably open yourself up to injury.

Maybe your therapist is working on his job security?

lulz. I had pt on my hamstring and the guy told me to squat to depth with a 12 inch stance. My knees were so far over my toes my damn heels were off the ground.

[bigtallox]

Which way do your toes point when you squat?

They point out. If anybody suggested that I should change that, they'd become somebody who I don't listen to anymore.

[RAGS_21]

Toes forward, pointed out a little bit. I think the toes pointing directly forward is dependent on the nature of their hips.

[eXpiRaTioN_DaTe]

left @11, right @1

[Cricket_Fire]

If your therapist thinks toes pointing out will hit nothing but quads, your therapist doesn't understand basic physiology.. I'd get a new therapist asap

[Poppy83]

left @11, right @1

I squat with my feet pointing at 9 and 3 o'clock. It has really made my curtsy noticeably more powerful!

[EinMassengrab.]

uhh,, i squat with my toes pointed out like 45 degrees. it doesn't hit your quads more, it lets you drop into your hips better = more glutes/hamstring usage (assuming you're using correct form and your knees aren't inwards at the bottom)

[BFJ]

most go with them slightly out. i would say several factors to consider are:

1) which angle or lack thereof are you strongest at?
2) do you feel any difference in which muscles you feel working when you change foot angle?
3) does changing your foot angle change the way in which your knee tracks over your toes?
4) which foot angle allows you to achieve the depth you need in a painless manner, etc.?

to me those would be things that should be running through your mind as you pick your foot angle, but i'm by no means a squatting expert.