hitting parallel on the squat

[E-Tank]

lol @ this thread

[YolkedPinoy]

I always ATG so no one can ever say im doing half squats and im short too, so the taller manlets can respect im ATG

Moar range of motion, moar gainz

A half squat is a half squat, not a squat

[adamdavidson47]

Probably the take-home point of that entire article was the paragraph on ankle mobility, something that causes lots of squat noobs lots of problems as far as reaching depth is concerned.

I have crappy ankle and hip mobility. Unfortunately, I'm too stubborn and lazy to do any kind of foam rolling or ROM exercises. I know I should, but I don't. My flexibility is turrible

[ironwill2008]

I have crappy ankle and hip mobility. Unfortunately, I'm too stubborn and lazy to do any kind of foam rolling or ROM exercises. I know I should, but I don't.


My flexibility is turrible

Some good info on fixing that ITT:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=123273471

[RxAJ]

To the OP, because things have digressed and I don't know if you actually got the answer you're looking for, parallel is an ideal benchmark to hit. If you have trouble "finding" parallel, just go as low as your flexibility allows. Try performing a squat without the bar actually on your back and squat down as far as you can; the goal is to hit that same range of motion with weight on your back. It's probably far below parallel.

Powerlifters use a myriad of lifting techniques to improve their 1RM and move past the sticking points of a lift, including partial reps and box squats. It sounds like he was showing you one of these.

[chazzy1864]

Clearly I'm making two different points if you can read.

Your point keeps changing as people have refuted your previous ones. First it was that going too low can blow out knees. Then you cited your student of mechanical engineering expertise while referring to a picture of two different types of squats and later stated that the forward knee travel would blow out knees.

[5ourdiesel]

Anatomically speaking, WTF does "blowing out your knee" even mean?

I hate vague statements like this. IF you really think that deep squatting will injure your knees, then state exactly what part of the knee becomes compromised due to increased flexion under load- ACL, PCL, MCL, meniscus, patellar tendon, patellar sublaxation antagonizing the patellofemoral joint etc

[BuschWolff]

Anatomically speaking, WTF does "blowing out your knee" even mean?

I hate vague statements like this. IF you really think that deep squatting will injure your knees, then state exactly what part of the knee becomes compromised due to increased flexion under load- ACL, PCL, MCL, meniscus, patellar tendon, patellar sublaxation antagonizing the patellofemoral joint etc

The term "blown out" knee means that a sprain in the knee joint has occurred, usually in the part of the knee known as the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).

[matches]

To the OP, because things have digressed and I don't know if you actually got the answer you're looking for, parallel is an ideal benchmark to hit. If you have trouble "finding" parallel, just go as low as your flexibility allows. Try performing a squat without the bar actually on your back and squat down as far as you can; the goal is to hit that same range of motion with weight on your back. It's probably far below parallel.

Powerlifters use a myriad of lifting techniques to improve their 1RM and move past the sticking points of a lift, including partial reps and box squats. It sounds like he was showing you one of these.

Thanks. I actually think my form is good to OK but we'll see when I post a video

Anatomically speaking, WTF does "blowing out your knee" even mean?

I hate vague statements like this. IF you really think that deep squatting will injure your knees, then state exactly what part of the knee becomes compromised due to increased flexion under load- ACL, PCL, MCL, meniscus, patellar tendon, patellar sublaxation antagonizing the patellofemoral joint etc

If this question is directed at me... I don't think that deep squatting will injure my knees. I was told that by someone who seemed to know what they were talking about. Then I read differing opinions online. Then I came here to tap into the knowledge here and I think I got my answer.

Thanks for everyone's help! Much appreciated

[EjnarKolinkar]

Some good info on fixing that ITT:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=123273471

That piriformis stretch on the ball is a lifesaver for me. Haven't had sciatica issue in a long time due to that gem.

I have crappy ankle and hip mobility. Unfortunately, I'm too stubborn and lazy to do any kind of foam rolling or ROM exercises. I know I should, but I don't. My flexibility is turrible

Heh, I look at my roller a lot and know I should be on it not looking at it.

I started just trying to do a toddler squat more often. It's flipping hard to pretend we don't have time for this one. Keeping feet pointing forward is harder than it looks, well when you ahve the mobility of Herman Munster like me :/





^ puts the ankle into dorsiflexion, pretty simple.


Article

http://b-reddy.org/2012/11/26/my-fav...toddler-squat/

[5ourdiesel]

The term "blown out" knee means that a sprain in the knee joint has occurred, usually in the part of the knee known as the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).

Thanks, just did some research on this-

A blown out knee aka O'Donoghue's Unhappy Triad, is a combination of three different tear injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and the lateral meniscus. This results from a plant and turn movement coupled with a lateral blow.

ACL tears are caused by the knee being straightened past full extension (hyperextension) and rotational injuries
MCL tears are caused by lateral force, most commonly when the knees "buckle in" when the knee is bent
Menisci can be torn when the knees are forcefully rotated or excessively bent

I don't see how a deep squat could rupture all three of these, unless you buckle your knees in laterally somehow. But of the three, it seems that the lateral meniscus would be under the most stress

[transamdroptp08]

After tearing my meniscus on my Left knee 85% of the off after surgery picking up a book on a bottom shelf. I only go to 90* on heavy lifts or over 185lbs. My father is on his 3rd and 2nd for my mother. I choose to take care and not speed up what is coming eventually anyway as I already have arthritis in it and am only 31. So if your body is only comfortable going down to 80* then go there. If you can go ATG then have fun. I guess I will just have to work harder to get swole like most on here.

[adamdavidson47]

I have been doing some Goblet squats before and after my back squats. For me, it seems to open up my hips a bit, if that makes sense. I hate using the term "loosen up".
It's also a nice way to hammer your quads afterwords.