Your squat technique??

[AJ]

How deep does everyone go on squats? I know people that go to 90 degrees and others that go all the way to the floor??? Which is better? I've got really crappy ankles and knees so going all the way to the floor isn't really a good option, I'm worried about ripping my knees apart!

Anyone else have opinions? Which works better? Would going to 90 do the same thing basically w/o risking major injury?

AJ [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

[steel27]

try going a little above 90. That is what works for me. The key is to get a real tight squeeze in your butt and quad. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[WarLobo]

You might wish to try a "sumo" style of squat. In this style you feet are wider apart, toes pointed at a greater angle from center - a comfortable angle, not to extream. And then you squat down. You look like them Sumo guys just before they charge... The knee must go over the big toe at the bottom of the lift. This takes much of the strain off the lower back, knee and does not require as much ankle flexablity.

LAte

Lobo

[AJ]

Thanks Lobo! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] I'll give it a try!

AJ [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[archive_FitnessChick]

I always go below parallel on my squats....I am a firm believer in not doing anything that even resembles a half rep...As far as my stance, I vary it from time to time, sometimes I keep my toes straight forward, other times I point them slightly outward....sometimes I will keep my stance narrow, other times I will do a sumo-type of squat.....These days I am taking a fairly moderate stance with toes straight ahead....The only thing I haven't ever done with squats is squat with weights under my heels.

[WarLobo]

And one should NEVER use the weight under heal thing...

LAte

Lobo

[AJ]

LOBO...

Why do you say no weights under the heals? I can't do squats unless I have a 10 lb plate under each heal because my left ankle is soooo incredibly bad and doesn't go to 90 degrees w/o major pain.

Please let me know your reason.

AJ [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Daeo]

I feel less stress on my knees when I go ass to the floor. I always use a shoulder width foot stance with my toes pointed at a slight angle outward. I keep the bar low on my traps also...

	ASS Nelson Montana

[riptchick]

Like, FC, I vary my stance occassionally. The brunt of the time I do toes straight forward, moderate stance (legs just slightly wider than shoulder width) and I go just below parallel. I find that I experiment more with the stance on my lighter leg day and stick to the meat and potatoes on heavy leg day.

[Monster]

Feet shoulder width, toes out just a little, and ass to the ground. I try to go down slow, bottom out and explode out of the hole. Basic old school squatting [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img].

-----------------------
"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy"

"My existance is a ripple through time"

	ASS Nelson Montana

[WarLobo]

Sorry about not getting to the plate under the heal thing. Now where did I put that article....

LAte

Lobo

[Monster]

I know exactly what youre saying Lobo, I cant think of what the details were, but suffice it to say that it is an invitation to possible problems, and kind of a.... "bastardization" of correct form.
I find it hilarious that several muscle magazines actually suggested that in their articles on squat form!

-----------------------
"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy"

"My existance is a ripple through time"

[Monster]

...BTW... I thnk there is something to be said for changing stance from time to time. Sort of in the same vein as hitting a muscle from different angles...

-----------------------
"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy"

"My existance is a ripple through time"

[retropump]

Are you still hunting for that refernce WarLobo? I'm curious too. I also squat with a plate under my heels because of an ankle injury. But I also like the sumo style squat since I can do it without the heel lift. I guess when you get old and crusty like me, you're unlikely to change something that's been working well for ya. But if it's really bad form then at least I can stop recommending it to other folks.

[Blackhaus1]

I'm with Monster...its all about the plain ass to the floor squat [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

But the girls in my gym look at me like this when i do it [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] like they've never seen it before...where are they from?!?! I have yet to see another female in that gym squat...and there are a hell of a lot of tooshes and legs in there that need it...

	ASS Nelson Montana

[Monster]

Yep, thats it Blackhaus! You can look at peoples legs and see the half-reppers from a mile away!
Its no wonder so many people wear long pants in the gym, Id hide my legs too if they looked like that! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

-----------------------
"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy"

"My existance is a ripple through time"

[archive_Iron God]

I hate seeing goof balls using WAY to much weight and doing quarter reps. They actually think they are squating! It ranks up there with people who do half reps on bench presses.

I personally never go over 405 anymore. I firmly believe you can build an olympian set of thighs using high rep moderate weight workouts. If you use super strict form and a full range of motion,you wont have to worry about killing your joints.