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6ft+ Excersise Inhibitions?

JKI19
JKI19 Posts: 91 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm 6'1 (~6'3 in gym shoes), and tend to have issues when it comes to certain weightlifting exercises. I have an average length torso, but really long legs, so I've found it incredibly difficult to do lifts like squats correctly because of how far down I have to go. I'm still experimenting with different forms. Does anyone else have a similar issue with a workout due to your height? How have you combated it?

Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    edited June 2016
    I'm average in height but my build (long femurs) makes squats more challenging a la:

    https://bretcontreras.com/how-femur-length-effects-squat-mechanics/

    What helped me was doing front squats instead of back squats for quite a while. This helped me add some muscle (I was eating at maintenance btw) and get a bit stronger and just feel better about squatting. After 10 months I added back squats again. They are still my most challenging lift but I'm OK with that.

    I've recently added in barbell hack squats and am really liking them. And then I also get a lot out of RDLs, deadlifts, split squats, and hip thrusts. Oh, and step ups!
  • JKI19
    JKI19 Posts: 91 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    I'm average in height but my build (long femurs) makes squats more challenging a la:

    https://bretcontreras.com/how-femur-length-effects-squat-mechanics/

    What helped me was doing front squats instead of back squats for quite a while. This helped me add some muscle (I was eating at maintenance btw) and get a bit stronger and just feel better about squatting. After 10 months I added back squats again. They are still my most challenging lift but I'm OK with that.

    I've recently added in barbell hack squats and am really liking them. And then I also get a lot out of RDLs, deadlifts, split squats, and hip thrusts. Oh, and step ups!

    Appreciate the feedback!
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    JKI19 wrote: »
    I'm 6'1 (~6'3 in gym shoes), and tend to have issues when it comes to certain weightlifting exercises. I have an average length torso, but really long legs, so I've found it incredibly difficult to do lifts like squats correctly because of how far down I have to go. I'm still experimenting with different forms. Does anyone else have a similar issue with a workout due to your height? How have you combated it?

    Widen your stance to reduce ROM
  • piperdown44
    piperdown44 Posts: 958 Member
    Well, my son is 6'4" barefoot and doesn't have problems with breaking parallel on squats. Just keep working on mobility.
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