Squat Question

**mintster** · 10-04-2009 10:16 PM

My training partner used a resident personal trainer to spot him while doing squats today - while offering a few technique tips the personal trainer explained that by not going deep enough he risked over developing his outer quad which could in turn affect his patella.

This is something I have never heard of before. As far as I was aware you needed to hit parallel (or slightly below) to get full benefits of squats??? Also I know there are many different variations of squats requiring different depths to squat down to. Is the trainer talking horse manure or am I completely wrong?

**Tomskiii** · 10-04-2009 11:23 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by mintster

My training partner used a resident personal trainer to spot him while doing squats today - while offering a few technique tips the personal trainer explained that by not going deep enough he risked over developing his outer quad which could in turn affect his patella.

This is something I have never heard of before. As far as I was aware you needed to hit parallel (or slightly below) to get full benefits of squats??? Also I know there are many different variations of squats requiring different depths to squat down to. Is the trainer talking horse manure or am I completely wrong?

So he was saying to go deeper and your asking if its necessary to go deeper than parallel-ish?

From what ive read parallel or deeper is the advice but if you only want to go parallel theres no terrible problem with it. I'm sure someone more experienced will chime in.

**bad_horse** · 11-04-2009 12:02 AM

Olympic squats are the best ones to do.

**Luffers** · 11-04-2009 02:12 AM

Squat as low as your flexibility allows!

Ideally for best leg development you want to be able to squat to at least parallel.

**suj** · 11-04-2009 10:07 AM

squating to parallel will not incorporate your glute's, but doing ATG Squats(ass-to-grass), you use the whole of your legs

i wish i could go deeper in my squat (i am currently doing something dave put up called "third world squats" it teaches you techniques to get lower into squats, it's working well so far)
as westerners we tend to go onto our tip-toes, so we got to make the body adapt to going flat footed!

i don't know why some people say going to parallel is better? the knee is strongest when bent
here's a good vid: YouTube - Common LIES about Squatting -- Strength

**Martin Brown** · 11-04-2009 11:02 AM

Well the personal trainer was correct, half squatting will develop imbalances in the quad that commonly lead to the knee cap maltracking.

Ideally squat as low as you can go, at least to parallel if not past it.

M

**LeMoore** · 11-04-2009 12:12 PM

Jus the other day i was "corrected" in the gym by a PT who said i am going too low in my squat. I was as low as i can currently go, which is a good bit below parallel. He said i should never go below parallel because it can hurt the knees. I carried on my way, i am glad i did now. I've never seen a reason why one should not go as low as one can. The knee cant possibly as strong kept in a parallel position surely?

Also, i have my feet pointing pretty much forward..maybe a few degrees outwards. Is that correct?

**TRC** · 11-04-2009 12:33 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by suj

i don't know why some people say going to parallel is better? the knee is strongest when bent
here's a good vid: YouTube - Common LIES about Squatting -- Strength

Nice video. Informative.

**mintster** · 11-04-2009 05:45 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Martin Brown

Well the personal trainer was correct, half squatting will develop imbalances in the quad that commonly lead to the knee cap maltracking.

Ideally squat as low as you can go, at least to parallel if not past it.

M

Cheers for all the answers all but Martin seems to have confirmed it. I have always tried to go beyond parallel (OK, sometimes struggle with last rep here and there) but wasn't aware that not going far enough will cause imbalances.

As a side note I tend to squat without shoes so that my trainers aren't pushing me forward onto my toes. When I run I wear trainers to correct my running gait (over pronate) - should I make the same consideration for squats? Maybe wear my running shoes?

**dope540** · 11-04-2009 05:49 PM

running shoes and squatting are not recommended.

they make you less stable due to the fact that you will be further from teh ground. the support and padding, aswell as the shock absorbent sole really eats into your power output. so you will be moving less weight than if you went minimal footwear.