squats form

BlueIsland

When you ae squatting should you go all the way down to your heels with you ass or (as i thought) bring your thighs parallel to the ground? Gym instructor told me I was noty squatting correctly as my ass should just about touch my heels when i go down. I said right grand thanks but thought thats not right!!! wat people think?

d'Oracle

Depends on what sort of squat you are doing and how flexible you are.

Some people go just below parallel.
Olympic lifters go really deep, as deep as your instructor says.

Others only go as far as parallel.
There is a lot to say that squatting below parallel is good for the knees etc.

It might be difficult if you have a low bar position (bar on the back of the shoulders) to get that deep.

cmyk

BlueIsland wrote: »

When you ae squatting should you go all the way down to your heels with you ass or (as i thought) bring your thighs parallel to the ground? Gym instructor told me I was noty squatting correctly as my ass should just about touch my heels when i go down. I said right grand thanks but thought thats not right!!! wat people think?

Transform/hanley/kevpants/podge etc will prob give you some excellent advice on this. I think it will depend on your flexibility though and rounding of your lower back. If this happens before you hit parallel, that might be good enough for you at the moment, and the lads could introduce some supplementary exercises/stretches to increase your flexibility and ROM.

It's a bit irresponsible advising that everyone should go ass to grass though. If you could take a vid of yourself squatting it'll get you some better advise again.

BlueIsland

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBSquat.html
i practice my form as to that link!!! I genuinely dont think it feels right going any further. like i will literally snap cruciate ligament if i go any further

Transform

BlueIsland wrote: »

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBSquat.html
i practice my form as to that link!!! I genuinely dont think it feels right going any further. like i will literally snap cruciate ligament if i go any further

no you do not have to go all the way to the floor and he was wrong to suggest it without checking and adjusting your form.

I find that most clients will round in the lower back if they go right to the floor and once you are breaking parallel you are grand.

BlueIsland

thanks. i guessed that!!!

Parsley

BlueIsland wrote: »

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBSquat.html
i practice my form as to that link!!! I genuinely dont think it feels right going any further. like i will literally snap cruciate ligament if i go any further

i'd agree there. most times though i'll do front squats as a warm up and go as deep as i can, ass nearly to the floor.

Transform

Thyme wrote: »

i'd agree there. most times though i'll do front squats as a warm up and go as deep as i can, ass nearly to the floor.

yes but that depends on how well someone can keep the back straight, knees out slightly etc

so what is right for some may not be right for others e.g. the squat is NOT a good exercise to do right away if someone is having issues with one leg stronger than the other or the tracking of the knee on one leg dropping in etc

d'Oracle

Transform wrote: »

. the squat is NOT a good exercise to do right away if someone is having issues with one leg stronger than the other or the tracking of the knee on one leg dropping in etc

Out of curiosity, what do you do to correct this kind of problem?
Is it just a case of unilateral work?

Colm_OReilly

Really depends on why you're squatting and what type of squat you're doing. Breaking parallell is a minimum, ass to grass is useful for high bar and front squats. Most won't go to rock bottom on the OHS and still maintain a good lumbar arch, which is important.

Transform

d'Oracle wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what do you do to correct this kind of problem?
Is it just a case of unilateral work?

unilateral work, foam rolling tight areas, stretching to get normal ROM, glute strengthening, adductor work etc