I'm a big fan of squats, but I've come to realize that even when I started going lower than I used to, it still wasn't below parallel. I finally looked in a side mirror while I was squatting and I was only going TO parallel. I tried doing a squat without a bar or weights, and if I try to go lower than parallel, I fall over backwards. I can do it if I hold on to something to keep my balance. I've also read that stopping at parallel is a horrible place to stop, because you don't want to reverse the weight back up at that point of the bend. I want to keep squatting but I'm worried about the health of my knees if I continue. Maybe someone else has had this problem or there's something I can replace it with?
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01-16-2011, 04:31 PM #1
- Join Date: Oct 2009
- Location: Florida, United States
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Can't squat below parallel. Should I not squat at all?
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01-16-2011, 04:36 PM #2
Widen stance, point toes further outward and squat down, not back.
You can do it, it's a natural human position.Bench: 572lbs (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9RrAfn0TfkY&feature=youtu.be)
Squat: 924lbs (https://youtu.be/hnvJ0SdCYKw)
Deadlift: 924lbs (https://youtu.be/KDS6TQ_--eM)
Bent Over Row: 485lbs (https://youtu.be/dc-t9k3f208)
Over Head Press: 405lbs (https://youtu.be/h3o4jOBa8IM)
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01-16-2011, 04:39 PM #3
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Watch this Dan John vid, it makes everything simpler for you.
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01-16-2011, 04:48 PM #4
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Squatting to parallel isn't that bad for you, do it if thats all you can.
And I just can't understand how a person can't do a full squat as its one of the most natural movements for your body. Think about sitting down as opposed to sitting back. And if you do have problems, just keep working at it and you should be able to do full squats soon enough.
Are you seriously suggesting that a position like this is impossible for you to achieve? :
Strength + Speed = Power
If you never fail, you aren't truly pushing yourself to the limit. If you never push yourself to the limit, how do you know what you're truly capable of?
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01-16-2011, 04:54 PM #5
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01-16-2011, 05:14 PM #6Look under your chair. YOU GET A REP, AND YOU GET A REP, REPS FOR EVERYONE! If I get a rep, you get a rep, every time. Give me a link to make my life a little easier.
If you don't give me a link and you didn't post in the thread you rep'd me in, I'm not gonna go searching for you. I'll get everyone on recharge.
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01-16-2011, 05:28 PM #7
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It's our Western lifestyle. Our bodies don't only adapt to what we do in the gym, but to day-to-day life as well. So if we sit all the time, our bodies adapt to that; if we squat all the time, they adapt to that, too.
Notice that the picture you posted (it's stupidly big, remember we don't all have 40" plasma screen tvs as computer monitors) as an example is of an Asian. In Asia their toilets are on the floor, and it's common for people to squat in the street while talking to each-other.
In the West we sit down on seats for the toilet, we sit for work, sit for transport, and sit for leisure.
On the flipside, many Japanese women will be somewhat bow-legged and pigeon-toed - when they sit kneeling on the floor they splay their lower legs out and feet in, doing this as children when their bones and joints aren't yet firm means they bend. So every culture has some way of living day-to-day that messes up their body. Our Western lifestyle just happens to screw up our squats.
Luckily, it's not that difficult to sort out. The Dan John vid above will help the vast majority of people to squat below parallel. The rest will need some time to ease into it, but it can almost always be done eventually.
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01-16-2011, 05:31 PM #8
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go back to bar only and keep practicing with it until u can..then slowly ad weight again.. i think to parallel is great too! either one is better than no squats!
Stace ;)
Currently: slow bulk for the winter :)
My Program www.growthstimuloustraining.com (w/ Ryan, my awesome online trainer)
MY JOURNAL = http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=133696651&page=3
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01-16-2011, 05:33 PM #9
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01-16-2011, 06:14 PM #10
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Try elevating your heels by using either a board thats 2-4 inches thick or use two 10 pound plates to stand on(one or each foot) this may help u keep your weight more forward throughout the movement... as you begin to get the right feel for where your body needs to be throughout the movement u can decrease the elevation in your heels gradually untill you are on flat ground... keep squatting man! Itis too important of an exersize to neglect... lighten the weights and work the form! good luck!
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01-17-2011, 03:07 AM #11
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01-17-2011, 03:18 AM #12
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01-17-2011, 03:42 AM #13
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01-17-2011, 05:44 AM #14
Work on flexibility in your hips and hamstrings and stretch out your calves; over time you'll find that your mobility and range of motion will increase. I'd also say that if you do all that and it still doesn't work, then try front squats or lunges. If THOSE exercises don't work, then go to the leg press. The squat is a great exercise, but if you can't do it right, and if it does compromise your lower back, then don't do it. JMO...
And for the record, most Japanese and Korean households have Western toilets. The "slit trench" style of toilets, while still seen at train stations and whatnot, is slowly disappearing. (Thank God for that!). Perhaps they still have a plethora of them in the other Asian countries although I hope not..."Don't call me Miss Kitty. Just...don't."--Catnip. Check out the Catnip Trilogy on Amazon.com
"Chivalry isn't dead. It just wears a skirt."--Twisted, the YA gender bender deal of the century!
Check out my links to Mr. Taxi, Star Maps, and other fine YA Action/Romance novels at http://www.amazon.com/J.S.-Frankel/e/B004XUUTB8/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
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01-17-2011, 06:01 AM #15
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01-17-2011, 06:37 AM #16Look under your chair. YOU GET A REP, AND YOU GET A REP, REPS FOR EVERYONE! If I get a rep, you get a rep, every time. Give me a link to make my life a little easier.
If you don't give me a link and you didn't post in the thread you rep'd me in, I'm not gonna go searching for you. I'll get everyone on recharge.
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01-17-2011, 06:44 AM #17
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