Locking out/Deep squat bad for knees?

[excore]

There was study that deep squats were bad for you knees but what I understand its not be true? Im also wondering if doing reps without locking knees healthier in long run? And are there ways to prevent future knee accidents? Personally never had problems with knees but curious how to deal if you have?

[stuward]

I'm not sure whether to take your questions seriously or not.

If you squat to the point where your calves touch your thighs, the knees may experience a prying effect. That only happens in people with extreme muscular development.

Other than that there is no harm.

There are a number of persistent myths about squats, summarized in this article.
http://www.biomechfit.com/2012/02/09/3- ... use-to-die" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tostig]

When I was getting pain at the knees I was worried if I really was injuring them but I really wanted not to believe that. So I went on-line to look for why I was getting pain.

I ran across the Asian Squat. So I practiced it for a while at home for a few days before going back to the gym. It's easier to do the Asian Squat at the gym because of the rubber padded floor and you're also wearing soft rubber soled shoes - mine are minimalist running shoes. At home you're on either hardwood floor, tiled, vinyl or carpeting - not a lot of friction.

Now I figure the knee pain isn't due to any injury or damage. It's probably the soft tissue like ligaments or muscles getting adapted and stretched.

[Dub]

The main reason why people think squatting deep is bad for your knees came from a study of Karl Klein from the 60's. This study showed that weightlifters showed more laxity in knee ligaments. And weightlifters are frequent deep squatters of course. To this day the results of this study have not been repeated. Quite the opposite actually. Several studies have shown that weightlifters have stable and even tight knee joint capsules. The main premise of the Klein study appears false, because ligament stress is actually bigger on larger knee angles.

[Drake Van Steed]

Deep squats are bad for your back. When you go low your lower back rounds which puts an enormous amount of pressure on your lumbar spine and discs. If you're unlucky a disc will burst and youllbe in pain the rest of your life. If you're lucky you'll be ok. Is it worth it ? Are your legs really going to grow that much more? Oh yeah, nobody cares either if your legs are 25 inches round or 25.25 inches round. Save your back would be my advice.

[Crow]

Deep squats are bad for your back. When you go low your lower back rounds ... Save your back would be my advice.

I agree with saving your back with proper form... But I don`t understand your conclusion (I marked it), because nobody recommends to do it like that (or go so far down that the lower back rounds).

Yes, below parallel is the recommended depth... but only when someone can do it without rounding the lower back. If someone can`t do it correctly, he/she has to work on it before going below parallel (or ATG)...

[Dub]

Deep squats are bad for your back. When you go low your lower back rounds which puts an enormous amount of pressure on your lumbar spine and discs. If you're unlucky a disc will burst and youllbe in pain the rest of your life. If you're lucky you'll be ok. Is it worth it ? Are your legs really going to grow that much more? Oh yeah, nobody cares either if your legs are 25 inches round or 25.25 inches round. Save your back would be my advice.

I think poorly performed squats are bad for you back. And knees. And hips. And quite frankly anything if you succeed to mess the form up real bad. The best way to refute your claim about deep squats being bad for your back is olympic lifters. They squat crazy deep with massive amounts of weights. Some will have back issues, yes. But it's not like everyone will be sent to early retirement because of blown discs.

Squatting is not bad for you, squatting with bad form is bad for you. I think that if one claims otherwise, one doesn't really understand how to coach people and how to adapt and modify ones programming with different people. Some people shouldn't squat and some people can't squat. Some can't squat deep. Some shouldn't squat deep. But it's not the squats fault. The squat is not dangerous if the exerciser is not making it dangerous.

[robertscott]

Deep squats are bad for your back. When you go low your lower back rounds which puts an enormous amount of pressure on your lumbar spine and discs. If you're unlucky a disc will burst and youllbe in pain the rest of your life. If you're lucky you'll be ok. Is it worth it ? Are your legs really going to grow that much more? Oh yeah, nobody cares either if your legs are 25 inches round or 25.25 inches round. Save your back would be my advice.

*sigh*

These blanket statements really do get tiresome after a while.

Not everyone's back rounds when they squat low. You squat as deep as your flexibility allows. If that's all the way down, then squat all the way down. If it's just below parallel, then squat just below parallel. If you don't have the flexibility to squat even slightly below parallel, then work on your flexibility.

[KittenJ]

Deep squats are bad for your back. When you go low your lower back rounds which puts an enormous amount of pressure on your lumbar spine and discs. If you're unlucky a disc will burst and youllbe in pain the rest of your lif?e. If you're lucky you'll be ok. Is it worth it ? Are your legs really going to grow that much more? Oh yeah, nobody cares either if your legs are 25 inches round or 25.25 inches round. Save your back would be my advice.

*sigh*

These blanket statements really do get tiresome after a while.

Not everyone's back rounds when they squat low. You squat as deep as your flexibility allows. If that's all the way down, then squat all the way down. If it's just below parallel, then squat just below parallel. If you don't have the flexibility to squat even slightly below parallel, then work on your flexibility.

Everyone is saying to work on flexibility. What exercises/stretching would you do that would allow you to safely squat just below or to parallel?

KJ

[robertscott]

Everyone is saying to work on flexibility. What exercises/stretching would you do that would allow you to safely squat just below or to parallel?

KJ

You could write a book on the topic (people already have, I assume), there's so much.

Check out the "So You Think You Can Squat" series of videos on elitefts.com. That'll tell you everything you need to know.

[KittenJ]

Awesome. Thanks Robert