The squat is an exercise, either done gymnastically (air squat) or with weight. It is poorly understood because it involves the use of many muscles.
Full Squats[]
The full squat, when performed correctly, is the safest leg exercise for the knees and produces a more stable knee than any other leg exercise. [1] Correct technique is deep, with the hips dropping below level with the top of the patella, in other words full range of motion.[2][1]
Any squat that does not go below parallel is a partial squat, which stresses the knee and the quadriceps without stressing the glutes, adductors, and hamstrings. Partial squats fail to provide a full stretch of the hamstrings, which produces anterior shear on the knee.[1]
Videos[]
<videogallery> image:Proper form on air squats|This video demonstrates proper technique on the "air" squat, a version that does not require external load.
image:Mark Rippetoe: Intro to the Squat|Mark Rippetoe intro to the Back Squat. </videogallery>
See Also[]
- Deadlift
- Push Press
- Snatch
- Pistols
- Overhead Squat
References[]
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