Necessary to go parallel with squats?

[juicyjuice85]

Is it really neces. to go all the way to parallel on squats to get maximim stress on the quads? It seems to cause more stress on my knees when I go this low.

 

[Lee]

at least parallel. anything less your not engaging your quads enough. if your knees hurt use less weight. less weight with proper form will always benefit you more than more weight with bad form.

 

[captainahole]

If your knees bother you that much get knee supports they will keep the knee's warm and safe from injury, that's if you are not sqatting more than you can truly squat.
Parallel will ensure you work on quads and hams and butt that's why it is so important. It may look impressive when you do shorty with big weight but any of the guys who do squat properly will just look at you as a joke.

 

[02gixxersix]

Basically the way the leg muscle work is that they stabilize the leg from the front and the back. If you don't go to at least parallel, you are not giving your hamstrings the chance to get the full stretch and therefore do its job. Partial squats are a complete waste of time, dangerous, and more of an ego thing than anything else IMO.

I'm paraphrasing some stuff from the book Starting Strength so I'm not trying to take credit for this opinion even though it makes perfect sense.

 

[ceo]

It may look impressive when you do shorty with big weight...

oh, like most of the guys at my gym!!!!!

 

[needtogetaas]

I go balls to the floor or not at all.

 

[ceo]

I go balls to the floor or not at all.

But needto has those really saggy old man balls, so that's only a few inches for him. That's why his squat is so huuuuuge!!!

 

[needtogetaas]

But needto has those really saggy old man balls, so that's only a few inches for him. That's why his squat is so huuuuuge!!!

No way. I am on so much juice I have no balls.

 

[FriendlyCanadian]

Is it really neces. to go all the way to parallel on squats to get maximim stress on the quads? It seems to cause more stress on my knees when I go this low.

for just your quads, I'd say hell fucking no you don't, I'd say the lower you go the more it incorperates your glutes and your hamstrings. If you're working on just targeting the quads I don't think you need to do full ROM squats.

 

[deathdroprob]

I go balls to the floor or not at all.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Let your body go down as far as possible and your knees shouldnt fel a thing, and you legs will swell up like a motherfucker

 

[drsketch]

I get all the way down to the bucket, getting the full range of motion.

 

[fortunatesun]

Knee injuries are one of the most commonly stated problems that come from squatting, however, this is usually stated by those who do not know how to squat. A properly performed squat will appropriately load the knee joint, which improves congruity by increasing the compressive forces at the knee joint. (8,(9) which improves stability, protecting the knee against shear forces. As part of a long-term exercise program, the squat, like other exercises, will lead to increased collagen turnover and hypertrophy of ligaments. (10,11) At least one study has shown that international caliber weightlifters and powerlifters experience less clinical or symptomatic arthritis. (12) Other critics of the squat have stated that it decreases the stability of the knees, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Studies have shown that the squat will increase knee stability by reducing joint laxity, as well as decrease anterior-posterior laxity and translation. (13,14) The squat is, in fact, being used as a rehabilitation exercise for many types of knee injuries, including ACL repair. (15)

This is taken from the Squat sticky in the powerlifting forum. You might want to read the whole thing and watch some videos of a well executed squat. It will change your opinion.

 

[GUARDIAN]

warm up and pre-exhaust your quads & knees with leg extensions. concentrate on your form. lighten the weight. and put your ass in the bucket.

 

[mad_monkey59]

Past parallel transfers stess to your hips which are able to handle the weight better, going to parallel will cause shearing stress to your knee joint... which is bad.

so yeah, balls to the floor or not at all.

 

[bigpimpin25]

ass to grass bitch

 

[sugashane]

I don't really think you have to go all the way down, but its a preferece thing. I don't like all the extra strain it puts on the knees when going below parrallel. I do squats for the quads, as soon as the other muscles (glutes, hams) start to be incorperated, I go back up.

 

[jackangel]

can you post a vid of your squatting form? do it.

 

[the_alcatraz]

No way. I am on so much juice I have no balls.

lolololololo

I used to go balls to the floor until one of my friends fucked up his knees doing it

Now I go 90 degrees...parallel...better be safe than sorry....