Zercher Squats

injured365

Right, for the mods, im not looking for any medical advice here....just peoples opinions on this because im not too sure about it. But if you think its too dodgy its all cool.

Basically ive been having problems with my back lately and have been seeing a physio about it for the past month or so. Last week he said i can go back doing some weights but to avoid lifting heavy in the like squats or deadlifts for a while. But i like doing them!!:(:(

Then i was talking to a powerlifter buddy of mine and he suggested that i mention doing these Zercher squats to the physio and see what he said about them. According to him they tend to place more emphasis on the abdominals than the back, which leads to less pressure on the spine. When i spoke to the physio he denied this completely but i got the feeling he didnt really know what effect they would have.

After a quick look around the interweb i found this article....
http://www.bodybuildingsecrets.com/articles/zercher_squats_a_very_evil_exercise.php

So (in a very long winded way) i just a few opinions on this??

brianthebard

Everything I've read about them suggests they are very hard on the back. I tried some partial rom zerchers yesterday and my mid back is completely very stiff, and while I was doing them I could definitely feel my erectors taking the strain to an extent. The article right that there is little or no spinal compression, but I still wouldn't do them while still recovering from an injury. Personally when I went back training after hurting my back I started with db lunges, moved to bb lunges and then finally squats. Just my thoughts, hope it helps somewhat.

amazingemmet

I second lunges and single leg work, can get a good workout with out having to load the spine too heavy. Another suggestion would be belt squats if you have the equipment for them

TommyKnocker

Hi Injured365

I really think that you should either take the advice of your physio or else seek a second opinion from a qualified sports physio.

It appears to me that you are seeking confirmation that you can go against medical advice because you "like to squat and deaflift" and don't have the patience to ease back into training slowly and carefully.

IMHO this is not a path you should be going down. Better to take it easy and get back to full health, then to rush and re-injure yourself or put your recovery back even longer.

Just my 2 cents worth.


Best Regards,

M

d'Oracle

If you are having back trouble, surely carrying the bar further away from the line of your centre of balance, is a bad idea?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but surely a zercher squat would cause a longer lever and greater force which has to be counteracted by the back?

I think you need to do what your physio tells you OP.

injured365

Cheers for the replies,
to be honest i wasnt really looking for a way to ignore the physios advice, it was more a curiosity because i had never heard of or seen those type of squats performed before and was looking for more info on them.
Looks like il be sticking with lunges and BW exercises for a while anyway

P.S. B-Builder your right about me having zero patience when it comes to easing into training tho!! Only thing when it comes to my back i am very cautious cos I grew up both parents having serious back problems

squod

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naaZ97qljdM

Never seen these before either, looks like fun.

Hanley

Ugh people should know by now never to listen to powerlifters.