Re-coaching the Squat by Riley Edmonds

[Riley Edmonds from St. Bonaventure University in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and is currently in the Coaching Mentorship Program at Athletic Lab.] Squatting is one of the most natural movements we do, and arguably one of the most important exercises we can use in training. The odds are everyone that has ever done any bit of exercise has probably been taught how to squat in one form or another. But what if I told you that what you were taught or are teaching is wrong? Okay, well maybe not totally wrong but certainly, the information currently in circulation by many coaches is a little outdated. Specifically, the idea that the knees should never pass the toes in a barbell back squat is wrong and should no longer be a common cue used by coaches. Imagine if you will two people, one fairly tall person and one fairly short person. In general, taller people have a relatively short torso but long legs, while shorter people have a relatively long torso but short legs. Now, when these two individuals perform a restricted squat, that is, a squat in which the knees are not supposed to pass the toes, the end result will be two very different looking squats. What you will probably see is the shorter individual will be able to squat just fine, keeping good posture and balance. (1) However, what you will typically see for a taller individual is a very hunched-over looking squat, with very poor posture and less balance. The simplest reason being that as the length of the leg, specifically the femur, increases relative to the torso, the center of mass will shift further backward, away from the [...]

By |2018-01-26T13:54:17-05:00January 26th, 2018|Training Info|0 Comments

A Systematic Approach to prevent Knee Valgus in Clients and Athletes?by Eddie Arvelo

[This is a guest blog by Eddie Arvelo. Eddie has a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science from UNC Charlotte and is also a certified personal trainer. He is currently full time Athletic Development intern at Athletic Lab.] For the last couple of years, I have been very fascinated with knee valgus movement. Knee valgus is when someone's bone or joint is pointed inward of the body. I would constantly watch athletes in person and on television who had some type of knee injury; including ACL, MCL or meniscus tears. I would ask myself "I wonder if that person has a huge amount of knee valgus"This movement should be a fire alarm to any fitness professional or coach to identify it as a problematic movement and start attempting to fix it. There are different methods used to approach correcting valgus knee movements. Some research states knee valgus is caused by reduced gluteal activation, while other research indicates use of bands will not help in preventing knee valgus movements that lead to injury. Essentially, there is no universal way to correct knee valgus movements. However, the number one objective for any strength coach or trainer is to prevent injury. Incorporating specific mobility exercises into their program may be ideal in achieving that goal. In 2012, a research study by Dr. Padua, Dr. Bell and Michael Clark wanted to find the exact muscle amplitude associated with valgus knee movement during a double leg squat. Additionally, they also wanted to observe if a heel lift would change it; either preventing or intensifying the movement. They took two groups of people: one group that exhibited valgus knee and the other that did not. They tested the amplitude of the [...]

By |2017-04-12T19:32:45-04:00June 24th, 2016|Training Info|0 Comments

The Effects of Squat Depth on Knees by Darius Marsh

[Darius Marsh is a student at ECU and an Athletic Development Intern at Athletic Lab] Do you ever have any knee pain when you squat or have to use accessories, such as wraps for relief during squats. For many athletes and the general population this is a normal occurrence. Many individuals say that knee pain can be due to technique for different squat variations, such as the back squat, front squat, and overhead squat. Although knee pain can be caused by technique, studies have used athletes and the general population's squatting depth to evaluate knee pain. Different squatting depths have effects on the knee, such as pain, force, and stability. In today's fitness world, many individuals are told to squat to parallel to avoid injuries to the lower extremities. Unfortunately, this is a false statement because parallel squats can actually cause more of a risk to your ACL and PCL. The squatting depth of the general population varies based on a person's knee pain. Squatting depths vary from different angles, such as regular squats between 60-70, a half-squat between 80-100, a quarter squat between 110-140, and a deep squat between 40-45 [1]. Prior research suggests that the deep squat presents an effective training exercise for protection against injuries and strengthening lower extremities [2]. In addition to knee pain, the squatting depth can affect the amount force put on the knee. The amount of force put on the knee can cause an individual to not squat as low as they desire due to discomfort. Individuals have various squatting depths to produce more or less force on the knee. One study suggests that peak ACL forces occur between 15-30 of flexion, decreases significantly at 60 and levels [...]

By |2017-04-13T10:56:26-04:00March 24th, 2015|Training Info|0 Comments
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