Back Squat Exercise: A Summary Of Back T
Lead Summary
The back squat exercise is often performed incorrectly and it is the job of the strength and conditioning coach to identify the potential causes of this improper technique that can ultimately lead to future injury. Two common technique errors include the lumbar spine extending into a hyperlordotic position as well as the knees collapsing in a valgus moment during the descent of the back squat. These biomechanical abnormalities and compensations are typically a result of muscular imbalances, where a muscle is weak and its antagonist is strong. In addition, a lack of motor control within the lower extremity and core or an overall lack of strength that is unable to mobilize the load that is being lifted can also be attributed to these …show more content…
This exercise is often selected for use because it is multi-jointed in nature that incorporates musculature along the lower extremity kinetic chain and core.2 Muscular imbalances, lack of motor control, and lack of muscular strength may lead to this exercise not being performed correctly. Performing the squat improperly when the client is descending towards the ground as well as ascending upwards through knee extension may be a contributing factor to potential symptoms of injuries such as lateral patella tracking, patellofemoral pain and low back pain. Two improper squat techniques that can be identified during both the ascent and descent phases of the squat are when the lumbar spine moves into excessive extension to produce a posture with hyperlordosis as well as when the knees collapse towards each other medially to produce a valgus moment.26 Females tend to display greater knee valgus than men during normal squat posture.16,17,19 This sex-related deficiency that results in increased knee valgus could be due to multiple reasons, though it is believed that the strength of an individual’s quadriceps musculature play a critical role in the ability to perform dynamic movements such as landing from a jump and side-stepping in athletic activity tasks without undergoing an involuntary knee valgus
The back squat exercise is often performed incorrectly and it is the job of the strength and conditioning coach to identify the potential causes of this improper technique that can ultimately lead to future injury. Two common technique errors include the lumbar spine extending into a hyperlordotic position as well as the knees collapsing in a valgus moment during the descent of the back squat. These biomechanical abnormalities and compensations are typically a result of muscular imbalances, where a muscle is weak and its antagonist is strong. In addition, a lack of motor control within the lower extremity and core or an overall lack of strength that is unable to mobilize the load that is being lifted can also be attributed to these …show more content…
This exercise is often selected for use because it is multi-jointed in nature that incorporates musculature along the lower extremity kinetic chain and core.2 Muscular imbalances, lack of motor control, and lack of muscular strength may lead to this exercise not being performed correctly. Performing the squat improperly when the client is descending towards the ground as well as ascending upwards through knee extension may be a contributing factor to potential symptoms of injuries such as lateral patella tracking, patellofemoral pain and low back pain. Two improper squat techniques that can be identified during both the ascent and descent phases of the squat are when the lumbar spine moves into excessive extension to produce a posture with hyperlordosis as well as when the knees collapse towards each other medially to produce a valgus moment.26 Females tend to display greater knee valgus than men during normal squat posture.16,17,19 This sex-related deficiency that results in increased knee valgus could be due to multiple reasons, though it is believed that the strength of an individual’s quadriceps musculature play a critical role in the ability to perform dynamic movements such as landing from a jump and side-stepping in athletic activity tasks without undergoing an involuntary knee valgus