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There seems to be much confusion amongst trainers and trainees as to whether
squats should be performed all the way down or just half way. In most gyms
today, a common instruction during squats, deadlifts, and lunges (as taught by
many personal training organizations) is not to allow the knees to travel
beyond the toes. Doing so will ultimately cause the destruction of your knees!
I do not agree. There are certain instances where partial range of motion (ROM)
is indicated, but for the most part, I teach people the full squat for the
following reasons:
* It is the most primitive movement pattern known to man; our ancestors used to
perform many daily functions (i.e. harvesting, gathering, hunting, cooking,
eating, etc.) in a full squat position.
* Also, in case anyone hasn't noticed, we spend 40 weeks in the fetal position
(which is basically a full squat) prior to entering this world - do we come out
with bad knees?
* We should strive to train in full ROM for each and every exercise. The squat
is no exception.
* Every exercise produces stress around a joint - the body then adapts to this
stress.
* Cocontraction of the quadriceps, hamstrings and gastrocnemius maintains
integrity around the knee joint.
* Sheering and compressive forces do occur around the knee joint (as opposed to
only sheering forces that occur in some open kinetic chain lower body
exercises, such as the leg extension); however, the large contact area of the
patella with the femoral groove (as knee flexion increases during the full
squat) helps to dissipate compressive forces.
* Therefore, not only is the squat - as a closed chain exercise - considered a
natural movement pattern with high functional carryover, but it is also a safe
exercise if performed correctly (and that includes full ROM!)
* Drawer tests are performed at a knee angle of 90 degrees because there is a
greater amount of laxity in the knee joint at that specific angle. So, does it
make sense to only go down half way where you are most vulnerable especially
when greater loads can be used (because you are much stronger in this partial
ROM?)
* According to Ironman contributor, George Turner, the fulcrum moves to the knee
joint in a parallel squat as opposed to the muscle belly of the quadriceps in a
full squat.
* Think about it, if you constantly trained in a limited ROM, the likelihood of
injury increases if one day you happen to squat beyond your trained ROM.
* Partial squats performed on a regular basis will decrease flexibility.
* There is a low incidence of lower back pain and knee injury in Aboriginal and
Oriental societies which perform full squats on a regular basis.
* Even Olympic weight lifters who practice full squats have quite healthy knees
compared to other athletes.
* Although you may find some research that indicates full squats as potentially
harmful to the knees, only one study has ever proved this to be true. However,
it was performed on a skeleton - the same results do not hold true with
surrounding connective tissue. On the other hand, numerous studies show the
benefits of full squats.
Unfortunately, many personal training certification courses are teaching half
squats as a safe version suitable for all individuals and this has now become
written in stone. God forbid that you deviate from this golden rule to do
something that our bodies are meant to do! Read this carefully: squatting
should be performed in a full ROM where the hamstrings make contact with the
calves (so that no light can be seen passing through your legs at the bottom
position.) It is okay for your knees to travel beyond the toes (just do not
relax the knees in the bottom position.) In other words, keep the legs tight
and try to stay as upright as possible throughout the exercise. So, next time
some fitness instructor approaches you in the gym and advises not to go deep
while squatting tell him/her that they don't know squat!
John
Paul Catanzaro is a certified kinesiologist and professional fitness
and lifestyle consultant with a specialized honours Bachelor of
Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Science. He owns and
operates a private gym in Toronto, Ontario providing training and
nutritional consulting services. For additional information, visit
his website at www.BodyEssence.ca
or call 416-292-4356.
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