Deep Squats Causing Injury

[Mystx]

Hi Guys,

Id love to get deeper barbell squats.
But it seems every time i go below parallel i injure my back.
I literally cannot achieve ATG with loaded barbell and walk away clean.
I can maybe break parallel just a little at best.
Any advice on how to become more mobile? Are there stretches to do?

[SuffolkPunch]

Can you do a deep squat without weight - and without changing the curvature of your lower back?

The key thing is to keep the spine in a fixed positions. If it starts curling near the bottom, that's when trouble happens. If you go too far the other way and stick your butt out, that can make it worse - because it has further to move when it gets to the bottom.

See how low you can go with fixed spine position.

[DCSpartan]

Whats the point of doing ATG squats unless you are a competitive Olympic weightlifter? why not just squat to parallel and stay injury free?

Just because some youtube bro is blessed with the flexibilty to do perfect ATG squats, doesnt mean everyone else has to.

[Mystx]

Whats the point of doing ATG squats unless you are a competitive Olympic weightlifter? why not just squat to parallel and stay injury free?

Just because some youtube bro is blessed with the flexibilty to do perfect ATG squats, doesnt mean everyone else has to.

Ive been thinking exactly this.
Ill hit parallel and then break it just slightly.
That should be more than enough (im just a regular joe anyway)

[GrouchyUSMC]

Once you can do this with a heavy dumbbell, then add an unloaded barbell on your back and progress from there.