Could the squats (with weights) injure your spine?

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CrazyBoy
Posts: 300
Joined: May 16, 2005 15:09
Location: Romania, Oltenita

Could the squats (with weights) injure your spine?

Post by CrazyBoy »

Hello again! I am back and with a new question regarding the squats with weights. Well, I am not the one who's having this problem. I heard it at a teen who said he practiced, besides MA, bodybuilding. This is it: he said that he (at 16-17 years) stopped growing/developing due to doing squats with weights, that his dr said it too. I didn't believed such a story, cause I know squats are the best general exercises. What's your opinion on this?

Maxim
Posts: 57
Joined: Jun 01, 2005 06:29

Interesting link

Post by Maxim »


CrazyBoy
Posts: 300
Joined: May 16, 2005 15:09
Location: Romania, Oltenita

Post by CrazyBoy »

Thank you very much Maxim for that link. I find it interesting. But you didn't gave me your opinion on this issue. I salut you from Romania.

Maxim
Posts: 57
Joined: Jun 01, 2005 06:29

Post by Maxim »

Hi crazy :lol:
I will give you my opinion, but bear in mind that I am biased. I practice full squatting movements with great regularity in my training for the oympic lifts.
Siff 1993b, p. 128 wrote: There is generally no such thing as an unsafe stretch or exercise: only an unsafe way of executing any movement for a specific individual at a specific time
I tend to agree with this, also regarding your question about the bridge. I still think most people should avoid the bridge though, as it serves no particular use for most.

Squatting, in my opinion, has no equal: the machines do not require you to balance yourself, and thus have little carryover to sporting movements.

To minimize risk, decend SLOW with control of the quadriceps and don't go all the way down=>this again is contoversial, some claim a 90° squat places MORE stress on the knees than a full squat.

My advice: if your hip, knee and ankle flexibility is adequate(feet flat, back arched, chest puffed out) to perform full squats, do it. Do not bounce violently on the bottom and control your speed of decend. Do not relax in the bottom position.

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