Hurt my back squatting

[riverrock]

I have never done this before, but I actually hurt myself squatting. I cannot move! I never make errors like that, but one guy in the gym reckons I had my back ever so slightly rounded. How can you make 100% sure your back is striaght when you can't see? Do you look to the roof like some guys do, or do you just rely on self discipline? Any stretching exercises I should do as a result?

 

[musketeer]

Sorry to hear it RR!

I found that being too casual about the weight on your back can contribute - I dont mean just stupid casual like when Chris Cormir twisted to look at his GF whith 315 across his traps and his vertabrae colapsed! I mean just remembering to tense the abs and push the chest up on every rep of every set.

I like to start the setup with my feet - "I spread the floor" out and then everything else comes naturally - or maybe I'm being too casual also!

 

[Protobuilder]

That sucks, bro. I've been there. And after, I just started *trying* to pay damned good attention to each rep, making sure my belly was full of air on each rep. You might also be sure you're making "core" work a priority if you're not already.

Hopefully the injury will subside w/in a short while, which will hopefully mean it's nothing too major.

 

[Jim Ouini]

I have never done this before, but I actually hurt myself squatting. I cannot move! I never make errors like that, but one guy in the gym reckons I had my back ever so slightly rounded. How can you make 100% sure your back is striaght when you can't see? Do you look to the roof like some guys do, or do you just rely on self discipline? Any stretching exercises I should do as a result?

Sorry about the injury. I hurt my back deadlifting last week and I thought the same thing: 'I never make errors like that' lol. And then I walked away (or limped as it were) muttering 'rookie mistake'

 

[Illuminati]

I have never done this before, but I actually hurt myself squatting. I cannot move! I never make errors like that, but one guy in the gym reckons I had my back ever so slightly rounded. How can you make 100% sure your back is striaght when you can't see? Do you look to the roof like some guys do, or do you just rely on self discipline? Any stretching exercises I should do as a result?

it just takes practice. you dont want to keep your back straight...you want to keep an arch in it

 

[zaxxon1982]

I have never done this before, but I actually hurt myself squatting. I cannot move! I never make errors like that, but one guy in the gym reckons I had my back ever so slightly rounded. How can you make 100% sure your back is striaght when you can't see? Do you look to the roof like some guys do, or do you just rely on self discipline? Any stretching exercises I should do as a result?

Looking up works for me because in addition to keeping my back arched, the act of doing it reminds me that I need to pay attention to what I'm doing.

Also, do you use a belt when you squat? If so, lower your weights, lose the belt, and work your way back up. Belts lower your margin of error at high weights because they let you develop your legs faster than the stabilizing muscles that will keep you from getting hurt.

 

[riverrock]

Good advice guys. Yes, I wear a belt and prehaps a drop down in weight would be a good idea. Anyhow, feeling ever so better today.