Talk:Squat (exercise)

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I am trying to research the benefits (if there are any) of performing squats in plie (externally rotating the hips in a wide stance.) This exercise is performed regularly in ballet. Doesn't it work certain muscles that are not worked in a parallel traditional squat? Wouldn't it be a good thing to do some squats in turn-out? or no?

mm

The muscles worked are the same, however the emphasis on different parts of the quads and among the muscles used in the movement changes. You might look through some of Christian Thibaudeau's articles on the internet -- he's frequently recommended "frog stance" style squatting for bodybuilding purposes: http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1198794

24.166.65.230 00:44, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The torso is not relatively upright...

There's a difference between keeping your back neutral, and keeping it upright.

Especially in powerlifting squats, where you break at the hip first, and reach for an unexistant chair behind you with a wide stance, you need to lean forward keeping back neutral to maintain your center of gravity over your feet. If you do not so, and keep your knees over your toes, you'll topple backward.

Look here for a full description by Louie Simmons, of Westside fame.

Olympic squats are more upright; you break 'at the knee', and go down, instead of down and backwards. They are harder on your knees.

In reply to the above: "relatively upright" refers to the position of the torso in space. Compare the position of the torso during a squat with that of a good morning; in a squat, the torso remains "relatively upright" while in the good morning it does not. The use of a powerlifting vs. Olympic set-up changes the degree to which the torso is upright but does not change the fact that it remains "relatively upright" in each squat variation.

In addition, I completely agree with the statement that "there's a difference between keeping your back neutral, and keeping it upright" as the two have nothing to do with each other. As described, "upright" refers to a position in space. "Neutral," on the hand, refers to posture and is completely independent of "upright." The posture referred to by the word "neutral" is the maintenance of the spine's proper lordic curve -- not allowing the lower back to "round" or arch excessively. At the bottom of a good morning, for example, the back should remain neutral despite the fact that the torso is not upright.

164.107.243.81 02:31, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Confusion

"The hindu squat is a squat done without weight where the heels are raised and the weight is placed on the toes."

So is there weight or isn't there?Alex Klotz 21:58, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

The second use of "weight" seems to refer to the weight of the body, while the first use refers to an external load. 164.107.243.81 05:30, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] 12/29: Revert Reasons for 97203414 as well as its edit 97205759

I reverted the article to a previous version because of the changes to the movement section and personal comments strewn throughout the article. The movement section describes the general movement performed during a squat, not the exact execution. There are plenty of guides available on the internet on how to squat if the reader would like to find one. Experts are completely divided on how a squat should be properly performed and the variation between individuals is great. This is complicated even further by the the various styles -- powerlifting vs. Olympic vs. athletic, etc. Because of this disagreement, it is not appropriate for the encyclopedia to force one method on the reader.

I also reverted the description of the front squat in the Variants section. The section made the claim that the Olympic grip is "better" than the bodybuilding grip. This is NOT a neutral POV and does not belong in this encylopedia. If the original editor wishes to discuss the advantages or disadvantages of the different front squat grips, he should do so in a front squat article from a NPOV.

As I see it, the focus of this page should be for a reader to be able to use it to identify the general movement of a squat and then the various types of squats. Additionally, it should provide an overview of the division between experts on how to safely perform a squat, mention the commonly available safety equipment, and make note of the use of depth increasing aids.

As far as edits, I reverted to the Westside description of a box squat. Any box squat is meant to momentarily kill the stretch reflex by resting the body on the box as well as, at least, partially unweight the legs. When the box is merely touched, it is being used as a depth gauge. A squat with a depth gauge is not a box squat.

Finally, in the leg press addendum to the Variants section, I removed the part about using the duck press on the leg press. This is redundant because the note already specifies that the reader should try the leg press. As well, as far as I know, the duck press specifically is not a common recommendation for use in lieu of a squat. This should be referenced if it is to be included.

24.166.65.230 21:34, 29 December 2006 (UTC)