Questions tagged [squats]

Barbell squats are one of the three lifts in powerlifting. Questions are about effective technique, variations, and programs for squatting with or without resistance.

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2 votes
1 answer
73 views

How to overcome fear to fail squat?

If one is it to fail the low bar squat, the way to fail it is given as you remove the hand grip and walk forward. , I have a feeling that I'll have an injury because I can't see the weight I'm ...
2 votes
1 answer
74 views

Top quarter reps vs bottom quarter reps for squats?

What do top quarter rep squats train? I've heard it's explosive power, namely vertical jumping ability. Why is that? Is it actually better than full range of motion squats for that, or simply a more ...
-1 votes
1 answer
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I cannot tilt my foot inwards

Just for the record I am not asking for any exercises/physical therapy advices, although if its allowed here, I would be very much thankful for these. I mainly want to know how I can describe the ...
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2 votes
1 answer
34 views

Landmine bar question!

Can you do landline reps with a 5-ft bar? I’m 5’7” female, 45, Med-build. I know most landmine users use a 7’Olympic bar, but I’m just starting out, and I’m not sure if I should buy a 5’, 6’, or 7’. I ...
1 vote
1 answer
85 views

Do front/back squats strengthen upper body?

I know it's obviously not gonna be the same as targeting my upper body directly, but will I still get some strength benefits in my upper body from doing front & back squats with a barbell? I feel ...
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5 votes
2 answers
112 views

L5-S1 level sciatica -> attempt to squat, but cannot keep heels on the ground. Worth continuing to try?

60yo male, 176kg. Had L5-S1 protruded disk problems in my 40s - fixed with physical therapy. Then again around my 50s - same fix as before. Hit me again in my late 50s, this time with no relief from ...
14 votes
1 answer
2k views

What causes me to lean forward on a barbell squat?

Recently I have been looking at my squat form and notice that I always bend forward too much such that my head is past my knees. When I try and correct myself to have head and knees aligned, it's just ...
0 votes
0 answers
19 views

What is the Difference in Movement between Dumbbell Squats and Dumbbell Deadlifts? [duplicate]

When searching on YouTube for the correct execution of dumbbell squats and dumbbell deadlifts, several videos show a nearly identical motion sequence. However, some practitioners have the dumbbells in ...
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3 votes
2 answers
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Why knee and hip torques in Squat are always referred to the midfoot line?

The knee and hip moment arms are, in Squat, always evaluated with respect to the midfoot line. This choice is not obvious for me. In fact, the midfoot is just the point where the centre of gravity of ...
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2 votes
1 answer
138 views

Why not pushing the knees out of the toes in Squat?

there is lots of information on the web about feet and knees out in Squat. Firstly, I'd like to summarise it here to make it clear. As explained here by Athlean X, in the Squat: a bit of external ...
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3 votes
1 answer
45 views

How do you incorporate/interpret velocity data for a workout?

During a recent squat session I tried out a bar tracking app and unexpectedly it also provided a bunch of velocity data for the set. I know that velocity based training is a thing but I always thought ...
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0 votes
0 answers
223 views

High-Bar Back Squat being easier than Bodyweight Squat

As difficult as it may seem, I'm able to keep a more neutral spine and feel a better balance in a high-bar back squat (and with sufficient load, obviously not so heavy to worsen my technique) as ...
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12 votes
2 answers
8k views

Gym Etiquette: Is it bad to hog a squat rack?

I'm currently doing a workout program involving squats, overhead press, deadlifts, and curls. All of this is done with a barbell and squat rack. However it means I'm now using the rack for 30-40 mins ...
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2 votes
2 answers
413 views

How much important it is to keep a neutral spine during heavy squat and deadlift?

Keeping a neutral spine have been traditionally considered a must in lifting exercises, especially heavy ones like Squat and Deadlift. The reason I've always been told is that it evenly distributes ...
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3 votes
4 answers
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Squats - Ankle Tightness

I've always had pain in the back after doing squats and realized that I have tight ankles and this results in butt wink when doing them. I've come across with a little hack; putting small plates under ...
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2 votes
1 answer
255 views

Dumbbell deadlift vs. squats

I'm fairly new to heavy lifting. I've been working out at home with adjustable dumbbells (my only equipment). Working out 3 times/week, among the exercises I've had recommended are deadlifts and ...
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

How much weight should we place on our heel and how much in our forefoot during squat?

it is known that the best feet setup for squat is the so called tripod stance, which wants you place your weight in three points of the foot: Base of pinky toe Base of big toe Heel My question is ...
3 votes
1 answer
656 views

Which is the proper shoulder-blades setup for front squat?

In high-bar back squat it is good to have retracted and elevated shoulder-blades in order to create a pad in the upper traps that allows us to keep the barbell in a stable position. Now, what about ...
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4 votes
1 answer
332 views

Bio-mechanical analysis of squat: torque on the knee and on the hip

There are many biomechanical analyzes of the squat on the web, but there are lots of things are not clear for me. Let's consider for instance a high-bar back squat. An analysis is provided by this ...
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3 votes
2 answers
494 views

Why should the knee point outwards in squat?

it's known and written everywhere that knee valgus in squat is bad. But I still haven't found a mechanical explanation of this, and even the best knee setup is not clearly described by most guides (...
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5 votes
1 answer
79 views

Can you determine if imbalances are muscular or mechanical?

Yesterday I tried out a new exercise, the Hatfield Squat, and then further to the Hatfield split-squat. I really noticed a difference between the two sides when doing the split squat. With my left ...
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3 votes
3 answers
234 views

How to balance when doing pistol squats?

I have been doing pistol squats the last few weeks and I feel that my lack of balance is keeping from progressing. I want to find a way to focus only on muscle strength and not balance, what are some ...
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1 vote
1 answer
124 views

How can we be in balance while performing the barbell hack squat?

Unlike conventional squat and deadlift, in the barbell hack squat the barbell won't be over our midfoot. How can we balance properly? I've seen also that some people start with the barbell on a ...
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2 votes
2 answers
352 views

Is it normal to zercher squat 3 times less than one can back squat?

I've done a set of 180kg x 5 lowbar backsquat today (hip crease below knee), and decided to follow up with zerchers. I could not do more than 3 reps with 100kg, and ended up doing 3 sets of 60kg x 4-5 ...
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why should we put our feet forward in Smith Machine Squat?

Here (and elsewhere) this statement is written about the difference between a standard barbell squat and a smith machine squat: One major difference between the barbell squat and the Smith machine ...
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1 vote
0 answers
125 views

What is the perfect Squat depth and tempo? [closed]

I have been lifting for 3 years managed a 170kg/375lbs squat with belt and low bar. Now I wish to start over with my squat and perform it high bar. My question is what is the best depth for the squat (...
1 vote
0 answers
339 views

Strange Lower Back Tingling [closed]

This may be piriformis syndrome, but according to the article from squat university it’s not, because the twisting motion and hyperextending motion cause the tingling. Yesterday, I did beltless front ...
2 votes
2 answers
8k views

What is the effective weight of the bar when I'm doing a landmine squat?

When I'm doing a landmine squat the bar weighs 20 kg. As it is pivoted in the corner of the room the effective weight of the bar must be less than its 20 kg but it must contribute something to the ...
1 vote
1 answer
139 views

Which is the proper final position in squat?

I struggle with understanding which is the proper final position of squat. Here this position is proposed: It's written that it's crucial to: lock the knees (i.e. having straight legs) lock the hips ...
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16 votes
1 answer
6k views

Why is "squatting the deadlift" bad?

In this article the author explains why squatting the deadlift (i.e. deadlifting with a too upright posture) is bad. He writes: This in turn both creates unfavourable leverages that cause more ...
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0 votes
2 answers
188 views

Low back on the way up of squat

I need some advices to understand if my low back posture is correct while squatting. Let's consider these pictures of me, referred to the way up of squat: Picture 1): I've arrived at the parallel. I ...
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2 votes
2 answers
296 views

How does one lift a heavy box up from the ground?

Here are some pictures I found on how to lift a heavy box. Is this correct technique? Mainly I am trying not to hurt my lower back.
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1 vote
1 answer
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Squat form check (no. 2)

Gentlemen, and ladies, I would like a squat form check, please! So here is my previous squat form check. The most important advice was that I needed to slow down my descent to consistently reach depth....
2 votes
3 answers
293 views

Squat form check: How to fix inconsistency in hitting depth and inconsistent torso angle?

Update: Here is a new form check request: Squat form check (no. 2) I would like a form check for my squats please. One major problem with my high-bar squats (I haven't learnt to do low-bar squats yet)...
0 votes
0 answers
94 views

Hip pain when doing a back squat or front squat

I have hip pain in the side of my leg when I back or front squat. It generally feels just very tight or small pain when I first start a workout cycle, and after a couple weeks the pain gets bad enough ...
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2 votes
1 answer
207 views

Are squats on the tip of the feet and bending back good for the legs?

In some video, I saw a guy showing a very effective, according to him, squat technique for working out your legs at home. The technique is such: a person should bend back, pulling their hands back ...
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3 votes
2 answers
317 views

Front squatting: sit 'back' or sit 'down'?

I've done plenty of front squats over the years, and a lot of those times were during PT sessions where I had a trainer to watch my form... and never really had any problems. Lately I thought I'd film ...
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2 votes
2 answers
743 views

Would front squats involve lower traps?

I'm currently in need of strengthening my lower traps, but I also plan to be doing a lot of front squats (for a different reason). I'm sure front squats alone wouldn't be enough to strengthen my lower ...
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0 votes
0 answers
53 views

Light-head after squats

I have been trying to get into regular exercising and started with a few reps of no-weight squats at home. I have high BMI of around 30 (though my bone-density is also high) for a reference. I did 15 ...
10 votes
3 answers
2k views

Should squats come last in a workout-plan?

I noticed that after doing squats I become very exhausted and tired, which seems to heavily affect my performance on the exercises following afterwards. Some of my collegues insist that squats should ...
3 votes
1 answer
523 views

What exercises to do for posterior chain if I have shin splints?

What exercises can I do for my posterior chain if I have shin splints? Can I squat or deadlift?
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4 votes
2 answers
964 views

Squats lagging behind deadlift

My one rep deadlift max is about 50% more than for squat. I can bench almost as much as I squat. I squat best with a fairly narrow stance and always squat deep. What might explain why my squat is ...
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0 votes
5 answers
173 views

During squat (front & back), is it mechanically possible to work the glutes more than the quads? How?

Title says it all. I am quad dominant. Yeah, it's bad. Trying to re-imagine myself doing some of the main exercises such as the squat, I wonder if it's possible, even for glute dominant people, to ...
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2 votes
1 answer
179 views

Split squats, knees over toes?

I've been doing split squats lately, partly to help strengthen my VMO I've read in a number of places that you should track your front knee over your toes in order to place more load on your VMO. But ...
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1 vote
1 answer
581 views

Wearing tights while doing squats and deadlifts

Is it healthy to wear tights while doing squats and deadlifts? I bought a pair of tights and did some squats and deadlifts, not problems at all but I am just worried whether it is healthy to do so or ...
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4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is ass to grass squat natural or a learned behaviour?

I can squat ass to grass, even lower, rest in a squat position with a barbell resting on my clavicles and chest and It is quite common for people in the gym to be able to relax in a squat position. ...
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1 vote
1 answer
86 views

Plie squats done wrong?

I've been trying plie squats and wall sit ups to improve the fitness of my pelvic region. However I feel most of my pressure on my thighs a little above my knees. Am I doing them wrong?
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1 vote
1 answer
100 views

Shrimp squats exercise

Are shrimps squats safe to perform as a main lift for the lower body? Bodyweight shrimp squats seem to be harder or as hard as weighted normal squats, so I thought about just ditching the two legged ...
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3 votes
1 answer
147 views

Squat accessory movements - Does the inclusion of both leg extensions and sissy squats make sense?

When considering quad accessory movements to compliment squats, does it make sense to include both leg extensions and (machine) sissy squats? Or put another way, are these exercises sufficiently ...
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3 votes
2 answers
259 views

Avoid tennis elbow when squatting

I took a break from barbell squats. Got diagnosed with tennis elbow, received a cortisone injection, got a medical elbow strap and haven't been doing any heavy back squats in the 3-6 rep range for ...

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