Why are you half-squatting again?

Nopedotjpeg
Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
http://articles.elitefts.com/articles/training-articles/why-the-hell-would-i-want-to-half-squat/

Good comprehensive article of why you shouldn't cheat yourself out of a full ROM on the squat.

Replies

  • cclark1203
    cclark1203 Posts: 244 Member
    bump
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I like it! I see sooooo many people half (or even only 1/4) squat. Some "couple" worked-in with me one time, watched me go just past parallel added more weight to what I was doing and the dude only went half way down and the woman only a quarter. Weird. Personally I like to shape my *kitten* and hips. What woman (or man) wouldn't?
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    +1
  • kensky
    kensky Posts: 472 Member
    Anything less than full squats really hurt my knees. I can see why folks that think that is how to squat think that squats are *dangerous*!
  • kunibob
    kunibob Posts: 608 Member
    Well put!! The bit about forces on the anterior of the knee really resonated with me. I have awful kneecaps (floaty & set at the wrong angle), and was given the advice to do half-squats to spare them. That actually hurt my knees MORE. Recently, I started doing full squats and was amazed that my knees only hurt when I was about 45 degrees down...not a problem at all when just passing through that range in transition to full squats, but a HUGE problem when I was only squatting to 45 degrees and changing momentum there. Plus, like the article says, full squats will help stabilize my kneecaps in a way that half won't.

    Good stuff.
  • lookslikeyoda
    lookslikeyoda Posts: 161 Member
    What about exercises where you have to go into horse stance?
  • addisondisease
    addisondisease Posts: 664 Member
    bumping for great justice
  • ChrisStoney
    ChrisStoney Posts: 479 Member
    Good article! At this piont in my life I could care less about impressing other people at the gym. Good form and lifting so that you struggle on the last sets is good for me. Last thing I want is an injury! doing lunges with dumbells is also a great workout.

    Squats are tough, but rewarding!
  • Luthorcrow
    Luthorcrow Posts: 193
    No doubt. It is rare to see folks getting even close to parallel. That said, you should only go as far as you can squat without rounding your lower back. Which for a lot of folks that may mean flexibility has to increase before they can safely break parallel. I know for myself it took several weeks of squat to stands and working at it to improve my hip mobility to get there.

    But lets be honest most people don't even try to squat at all. Not when they can get i not in the leg press machine and feel like the hulk without really doing much work.
  • ChrisStoney
    ChrisStoney Posts: 479 Member
    No doubt. It is rare to see folks getting even close to parallel. That said, you should only go as far as you can squat without rounding your lower back. Which for a lot of folks that may mean flexibility has to increase before they can safely break parallel. I know for myself it took several weeks of squat to stands and working at it to improve my hip mobility to get there.

    But lets be honest most people don't even try to squat at all. Not when they can get i not in the leg press machine and feel like the hulk without really doing much work.

    start out squating with no weight if you have too, then maybe the bar.. it is all about what works for you... if you feel sore in the buttocks it is working!
  • ruststar
    ruststar Posts: 489 Member
    I work really hard to get my form right when I squat and I feel like I'm getting to parallel, maybe even a bit below, but where I struggle is with the bar on my shoulders. My legs won't hurt at all (I'm working up from just the bar in pound increments) but I can see the bar dipping when I come up unless I'm really focused. Maybe I'm not using the right grip. I asked for help at the gym once and the staff guy tried to convince me to use the Smith machine instead.

    Um...no. If I'm going to do squats, I want to learn to do them properly, and not ignore all the stabilizing muscles in the process. Clearly that's where I'm weaker.
  • hsmithway
    hsmithway Posts: 191
    I have a tendon by my left knee that likes to make a big *SNAP* when I get down to a certain point. As my legs get stronger, and my form gets better, I'm slowly able to go farther down without feeling like I've been flogged on the leg by an industrial strength rubber band, but it's not going to happen overnight.

    Muscle soreness = good.

    Tendon pain = not so hot.
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    bump
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    bump
  • Quickster34
    Quickster34 Posts: 209 Member
    I work really hard to get my form right when I squat and I feel like I'm getting to parallel, maybe even a bit below, but where I struggle is with the bar on my shoulders. My legs won't hurt at all (I'm working up from just the bar in pound increments) but I can see the bar dipping when I come up unless I'm really focused. Maybe I'm not using the right grip. I asked for help at the gym once and the staff guy tried to convince me to use the Smith machine instead.

    Um...no. If I'm going to do squats, I want to learn to do them properly, and not ignore all the stabilizing muscles in the process. Clearly that's where I'm weaker.

    Well Said ! smith machines are not squats because they cut out the stabilizers, find a better trainer to ask , not all trainers are equal and as you increase your weight you will have to focus on not colapsing your knees in or out and keep your shoulders tight so the bar goes where you want it

    keep it up!
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