Squats and Knees

[Elementality]

Hi, just wondering, when freestyle squatting with a neutral stance I was wondering how to protect the knees. I lowered my squat weight to the point where i can 5x5 it and go all the way down where my ass almost touches the ground.

My question is, to avoid knee complications, should I be focusing my weight towards my heels when I push back up? or should i be flat footed, or on the toes?

Makes sense to me to be on the heels just like when deadlifting. any commets would be great thanks

 

[captainahole]

I squat flat footed and use my heels and ball of my foot to come out of a squatting position. I think pushing off with your toes will limit you weight you can use to maximize the squat.
and of course don't bounce off your lower position but that's common sense.
I always use knee wraps for squats over 315 just to help stabalize my legs and to minimize any damage to my knees

 

[tehkevroy]

you hurt you knees? if yes its hapenn to me i wasnt squating low(lowetr than 90degress) since I full squat i got no problem

 

[tropo]

I squat flat footed and use my heels and ball of my foot to come out of a squatting position. I think pushing off with your toes will limit you weight you can use to maximize the squat.
and of course don't bounce off your lower position but that's common sense.
I always use knee wraps for squats over 315 just to help stabalize my legs and to minimize any damage to my knees

Just some thoughts:

Should a bodybuilder be using knee wraps to lift heavier weights?

I can understand a powerlifter using them, but should a bodybuilder be using assistance to lift heavier?

It's kind of like a bodybuilder using a bench suit so he can bench heavier. Why use weights you can't safely handle?

It brings to mind a video of Ronnie Coleman doing 2 reps with 800 lbs on the squat. I was curious as to what he was thinking...the risk of serious injury being so high. I really think that if Ronnie wasn't so gungho with ridiculously heavy weights he may have won a few more Olympia crowns.

 

[Scotsman]

Just some thoughts:

Should a bodybuilder be using knee wraps to lift heavier weights?

I can understand a powerlifter using them, but should a bodybuilder be using assistance to lift heavier?

It's kind of like a bodybuilder using a bench suit so he can bench heavier. Why use weights you can't safely handle?

It brings to mind a video of Ronnie Coleman doing 2 reps with 800 lbs on the squat. I was curious as to what he was thinking...the risk of serious injury being so high. I really think that if Ronnie wasn't so gungho with ridiculously heavy weights he may have won a few more Olympia crowns.

All knee wraps do is help support and stabilize the joint. They really don't make you lift heavier, just allow you to feel more comfortable with the weights. If you are using a light bench shirt then it is just doing its original purpose of protecting the shoulder and RC's. Ronnie lifts super heavy because he has a powerlifting background and obviously it didn't hurt his ability to put on muscle.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[kiosk]

you hurt you knees? if yes its hapenn to me i wasnt squating low(lowetr than 90degress) since I full squat i got no problem

same here....after squating all way down my knee pain has disapeared!

 

[tropo]

All knee wraps do is help support and stabilize the joint. They really don't make you lift heavier, just allow you to feel more comfortable with the weights. If you are using a light bench shirt then it is just doing its original purpose of protecting the shoulder and RC's. Ronnie lifts super heavy because he has a powerlifting background and obviously it didn't hurt his ability to put on muscle.

Cheers,
Scotsman

But his obsession with heavy lifting may have prevented him from getting that one last crown that he very much wanted.

 

[Scotsman]

But his obsession with heavy lifting may have prevented him from getting that one last crown that he very much wanted.

Or the lat tear, severely bloated gut, poorer than normal conditioning, etc....

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[tropo]

Or the lat tear, severely bloated gut, poorer than normal conditioning, etc....

Cheers,
Scotsman

Sure, and anyone of a dozen or more possible reasons, but I'm sure you wouldn't be in a hurry to advocate back breaking 1, or 2 rep max squats. The risks are very high.

 

[b fold the truth]

Sure, and anyone of a dozen or more possible reasons, but I'm sure you wouldn't be in a hurry to advocate back breaking 1, or 2 rep max squats. The risks are very high.

Nearly every time I've been hurt...it has been with sub-maximal weights and repetitions.

Knee wraps help me squat a great deal more. I have 3 pair. APT's for light help. INZER's for help. TP's for serious contest weights!

I wear my APT knee sleeves when I have knee pains. Keeps the warmth in, takes the pain away, and doesn't aide in my poundages.