Front Squats?

[SDHW]

I would like to add these in my 5x5 on Wensday, but I have to say they kill my shoulders, even with light weight. This is the main reason I have never done them. Is this something that im going to just have to deal with, or am i doing something wrong?

 

[Protobuilder]

kill your shoulders as in it wears out your shoulders muscles, or meaning it hurts, as in flexibility problems? The latter will work itself out if you keep practicing. The former means you're probably not racking it properly and are using your muscle to keep the bar "up".

 

[al420]

If I hold fronts in a choke grip I can get some shoulder soreness at heavy weights. I changed to clean grip and no issue.

 

[anotherbutters]

Got your elbows up?

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/OlympicLifts/ElbowPosition.html

 

[SDHW]

kill your shoulders as in it wears out your shoulders muscles, or meaning it hurts, as in flexibility problems? The latter will work itself out if you keep practicing. The former means you're probably not racking it properly and are using your muscle to keep the bar "up".

not as muscle issue, pain, b/c of where the bar is placed.

 

[SDHW]

Got your elbows up?

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/OlympicLifts/ElbowPosition.html

no, this is hard for me to keep elbows up. but even if you look down at the pictures on the bottom they have the bar resting across the shoulders. that is what kills my shoulders!

 

[Guinness5.0]

Is the bar damn near choking you? If not, it should be.

 

[Cynical Simian]

Just buy a Sting Ray, bro.

http://i13.tinypic.com/3zbdy0n.jpg

 

[Protobuilder]

man up.

 

[coolcolj]

build some front delts....

 

[anotherbutters]

Indeed. Bigger shoulders help. What do you weigh?

 

[blut wump]

build some front delts....

Bingo!

 

[SDHW]

damn you guys are brutal ..lol. I do have front delts, im 260lbs... I guess I will just suck it up for a while and see how it goes...

 

[blut wump]

Just make a big effort to get your elbows high. The weight shouldn't really be causing you to use your shoulders as other than pads as it sits back and presses into your windpipe.

 

[anotherbutters]

After I take the bar from the rack, I tilt my head back then bring it forward and sit my adams apple down on the bar. The bar's that close.

260lbs? Zeez, you've got 80 lbs on me, lol

 

[Protobuilder]

It really rides right across the clavicle and if the elbows are up high enough, it fits into a little groove in the shoulder where there really isn't much muscle. Kind of "behind" the front delt I guess. Who knows. There are other large guys on here who do 'em w/out pain. I suggest practice, practice, practice . . . and stretch.

 

[SDHW]

Screw the front squats, I tried them today with 135lbs, and no matter where I put the bar, as soon as I went down, the further I got down the more pain. To the point where thats all I can think about. It could be b/c I have played a lot of football as a linebacker and fullback and my shoulders have taken a beating.... I just dont think they are for me

 

[H_T_]

gotta be a bit flexible for these to work.