Squats, the deeper the better?

[BjsAust]

Or put another way, if I need to drop weight to go past thighs parallel to the ground should I? I tend to feel a little uncertain if I go any deeper and would probably need to drop some weight off to feel comfortable going as far down as I can. Is that the way to go though?

[DKing]

Yes you should drop the weight down and go lower. It will end up being positive in the end.

Danny

[BjsAust]

Thanks, I'll give that a shot on Friday.

[BjsAust]

Did this today, droped weight by 20 kg and it felt great. Also not as bad balance wise as I thought, shouldn't take long to get it back up. Makes it a real effort to get moving back upwards again [img]smile.gif[/img] . A little more hurty on my knee (I've done pretty much everything that can be done to my right knee over the years) but experimenting with foot placement I could find a pain free way to stand whilst doing them.

[anniehall]

hmmm, I was under the impression that you're only suppose to make a 90 degree angle, almost sitting like position and never go down further. maybe i'm understanding this topic wrongly.

[DKing]

Annie, thats a common misconception. But 90 degrees is actually the most unstable position a knee can be in. Its kind of like pulling the emergency break on a car doing 60 mph. Its not ready to stop or in a good position to do so. There have been a couple topics about it in the past with some awesome contributions from some of the guys here that would give you a great understanding.

Danny

[Torque]

When going down past 90 degrees, what it the effect on the muscles versus going to 90 degrees? Does affect different muscles or just hit the same muscles better?

[DKing]

More activation of the glutes, hamstrings, and vastus medialis.

Danny

[anniehall]

I'm still not understanding why? EVERY single weight training book/instructor/ etc has said the wrong position is to go past 90 degrees. Squats in general are hard on the knees and not are lunges. My guess if you have bad knees is to use less weight, maybe use isometric exercises (static) like sitting in a 90 degree angle against the wall. I would also guess that when doing a squat that you don't hold your body too long in the 90 degree angle. That might ease on the knees.
Again, I'm just a new trainer but have been doing squats for years and benefited. I just assume if you've read maybe 20 different books all saying one thing that it's right.

[dos]

I'm still not understanding why? EVERY single weight training book/instructor/ etc has said the wrong position is to go past 90

There are lots of myths in regard to the conditioning process, this is just one of many. Funny thing is that leg extensions are probably worse for the knee than full squats. There is tremendous sheer force about the knee during leg extensions (and heavy partial squats!).

Bottom line, sacrifice some load and perform your squats the way your body was meant to....fully.

[DKing]

Originally posted by anniehall:
I'm still not understanding why? EVERY single weight training book/instructor/ etc has said the wrong position is to go past 90 degrees. Squats in general are hard on the knees and not are lunges. My guess if you have bad knees is to use less weight, maybe use isometric exercises (static) like sitting in a 90 degree angle against the wall. I would also guess that when doing a squat that you don't hold your body too long in the 90 degree angle. That might ease on the knees.
Again, I'm just a new trainer but have been doing squats for years and benefited. I just assume if you've read maybe 20 different books all saying one thing that it's right.

You are reading the wrong books. In the post you made asking for books I have you a good list. Start through some of those. They will give you the right info.

And take a look at olympic lifters. I would like to see a study done of past oly lifters to show how there knees are working. They do more full squats than anyone I have ever seen and I haven't heard much about the negative effects they are facing.

Danny