I showed my personal-trainer friend the Squat. I had good form, I thought.
She told me that I should not go deep because I will hurt my knees. She said I shouldn't go deeper than parallel to the ground.
I told her that I thought If I kept my form good, that I'd be OK. She said she'd send me articles.
3 comments:
“Anyone who says that full squats are ‘bad for the knees’ has, with that statement, demonstrated conclusively that they are not entitled to an opinion about the matter.
People who know nothing about a topic, especially a very technical one that requires specific training, knowledge, and experience, are not due an opinion about that topic and are better served by being quiet when it is asked about or discussed. For example, when brain surgery, or string theory, or the NFL draft, or women’s dress sizes, or white wine is being discussed, I remain quiet… But seldom is this the case when orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, or nurses are asked about full squats. Most such people have absolutely no idea what a full squat even is, and they certainly have no concept of how it affects the knees, unless they have had additional training beyond their specialties, which for the professions mentioned does not include full squats. Because if these people knew anything about squatting and the difference between a full squat and any other kind of squat and what they do to the knees, they would know that ‘full squats are bad for the knees’ is wrong and thus would not be making such a ridiculous statement.”
-Mark Rippetoe
Be sure and forward me the articles she gives you if possible.
Have her read Starting Strength by Rippetoe and Kilgore.
Sounds like it's time to find a new trainer. Unfortunately, 90% of "trainers" that work in gyms (outside of university sports programs) know almost nothing about functional training and perpetuate various myths derrived from Shape and Muscle & Fitness magazines. On top of that, most of the certification programs are based on rehabilitation protocols rather than athletic development. Just look at the workouts - shallow lunges with 10lb DBs for lower body, tricep extensions and curls for upper body, and of course the usual assortment of "ab work."
Here's a link to research on squats: http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0827.htm
In summary the body of research says that squats actually put less strain on knees than leg ext., leg press, etc., actually result in more stable knee ligament structure, and are vastly superior for strength development and athletic performance.
I can vouch for that. Leg extensions used to kill my knees. They hurt when you put on any kind of heavy-ish weight.
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