MONDAY MUSINGS - WHY YOU CAN'T SQUAT #4/5
By Island Rehab Hub
Bite-sized tips to get you thinking on a Monday (unless there’s a hurricane, so we’ll have to settle for a Tuesday!). Following on from last week, we dive into part four of ‘5 Reasons You Can’t Squat’ and briefly examine another very common problem
‘One thing too many lifters neglect is the irreplaceable but absolutely necessary art form that is bracing.’
Dr Spencer Brown
Squats are, in my opinion, an awesome exercise for just about anything! However, as with all exercises this is only the case when the squat is performed correctly. With this in mind here’s my take on why most people have difficulty squatting.
#4 – Poor mid-section (or ‘core’) control
The Problem:
A lack of mid-section (or ‘core’) control/strength will definitely hinder your ability to squat. The spine/pelvis area can have a mind of its own if there’s weakness here, and the knock-on effects can be very severe indeed, particularly if you’re attempting heavy lifts! However, it’s all relative so a heavy lift can be anything from your bodyweight to 180kgs.
The Solution:
No matter what you’re lifting, get used to ‘bracing’ your mid-section. Imagine you’re about to be punched in the stomach…that’s what I mean by bracing. Brace on the way down and hold your breath, then on the way up simultaneously brace and exhale. This adds that all important stiffness to your body for a better squat
‘Imagine you’re about to get punched in the stomach’
There aren’t too many ways to almost instantly improve the quality and even weight of your squats, but learning how to properly ‘brace’ is definitely one of them.
Happy bracing, your next squat PR is waiting!
Look for blog posts to follow ranging in topics from general fitness, strength training and CrossFit to knee problems,
reasons why people are in pain and why I don't recommend over-stretching the hip flexors.
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