

This will ensure that you are not putting any unnecessary pressure on your ligaments. Knees should stay in line with the toes or a little outside.


You want to make sure that your knees never cave in towards your midline. Knees are one of the biggest compromises I see on a squat. Knee Positionįinding a safe position should always take priority. The goal is always to have a greater range of motion as long as we are in a safe position. Your lowest depth with flat feet and neutral spine will be your depth - for today. If your pelvis tips under, you’re too low. This means – if you were to look at your spine in an x-ray from the side, it would appear as a direct diagonal from your head to your tailbone. Here… you want to make sure you only go as low as your back stays, in a neutral position. Once that position is found, you will do the same check but for your back. If you go onto your toes and heels come up, you’ve gone too far. The first check is to squat as low as you can with your heels flat on the floor. There are, however, a few steadfast check-ins you can do to help find your personal squat.
Proper squat form how to#
How To Incorporate Squats:īecause all of our bodies are built differently, the correct squat for you may look different than the person next to you. Performing squats help reinforce and strengthen proper knee position. More importantly, they can cause an immediate injury in an explosive movement. Weak stabilizers will cause wear and tear injuries over time. You want to know that in every stand-up, sit down, step up, and jump… your knee is in a correct position. Strengthening the muscles that support the knee’s proper alignment is an extremely important preventative measure. Most injuries we see at the knee are caused by weak stabilizers. It’s no mystery – Squats build a backside that is aesthetically pleasing and functionally strong. This means every muscle that pulls us into the correct posture and counteracts the position our computer chairs put us in… is working. Our entire posterior chain has to turn on during the squat. However, squats don’t only aid in the aesthetic construction of our back view. Especially while our entire back is aiding through support and stabilization. The big muscles on the back of our legs and hamstrings also help on the drive up. This means squats and their many variations are integral in building and shaping a booty. Last I checked, most chairs are still built to 90 degrees. Train to the depth you still want to have in life at 50, 60, or 70+ years old. This means taking your squats to at least parallel, if not further, to maintain your range and strength. The more correctly and efficiently we can do this motion, the longer into our life we will be able to maintain this movement pattern. Every day we sit down and stand up in a variety of ways. Whether we think about it or not, a squat is an extremely functional exercise.
Proper squat form pro#
Pro Tip: You will feel a significant jump in intensity in comparison to isolated exercises by adding a kettlebell in front or a barbell to your back. Not only do we get the work of our three biggest muscle groups ( glutes, quads, and hamstrings), we get additional work stabilizing with our back and core. More muscle work equals more energy required and more caloric burn. When we are speaking in terms of fat loss, this is a significant bang for your buck. One of the biggest benefits of a squat is that it includes several different muscle groups. While there are many advantageous reasons to squat and ways to incorporate them, here are 3 amazing benefits to squats and how to implement them into your weekly workout. Many are curious on how to start, but more importantly, proper squat form and how to safely implement them. We have all heard that we should be including squats in our routine… heard of Crossfit? However, do you know how to squat? A vast majority of people are unsure why squats are so important.
