Squat University – Page 3 – Squat University

When Can My Child Start Lifting Weights?

March 4, 2016October 10, 2022 ahorschig261 Comments

The media today often condemns the use of barbell training for young children. There are some that claim lifting weights at a young age will lead to stunted growth, fractured growth plates and limit athletic potential. Still others believe barbell training can be safe for a child as long as technique is stressed. As a parent or coach, whom should you believe? Is weight training for young athletes really as harmful as many have made it out to be?Continue reading When Can My Child Start Lifting Weights?

3 Core Stability Exercises For a Better Squat

February 26, 2016March 6, 2021 ahorschig43 Comments

Proper mechanics during the squat is all about maintaining proper core stability. If core stability is compromised strength and power is lost.Continue reading 3 Core Stability Exercises For a Better Squat

System Failure

February 19, 2016March 6, 2021 ahorschig35 Comments

Our system is broken. We are failing ourselves professionally. We have failed the athletes, coaches, parents and young colleagues around us. This would be a good time to pop some popcorn and prepare for an aging mans rant… We’ll take a break from the other well written and thought out posts of Squat University. This will be less of that and more of a conversation with your grandfather discussing how he walked up hill both ways to school in the snow and how this generation has ruined everything good.Continue reading System Failure

Just Kickin’ It Podcast

February 15, 2016August 22, 2020 ahorschig26 Comments

Recently Dr. Aaron Horschig of SquatU sat down with the guys on the Just Kickin’ It Podcast . They had a great disussion about movement theory, training soccer atheltes, and debunking squat myths.Check it out! Show Notes: 1:03 – 3:52: Aaron’s background and how he got interested in strength and conditioning and his journey to becoming a doctor ofContinue reading Just Kickin’ It Podcast

How to Breathe when Squatting

February 12, 2016October 10, 2022 ahorschig56 Comments

A proper squat is all about maintaining proper spinal stability. When we combine the coordinated bracing ability of our core muscles and harness the power of our breath we allow our body to move properly and lift tremendous weights safely.Continue reading How to Breathe when Squatting

How to Teach a Perfect Squat

February 5, 2016March 9, 2021 ahorschig54 Comments

When we talk about the squat many people often want to jump right into discussing the barbell squat. We forget the basics of the bodyweight squat. If we don’t address the movement of the squat before the exercise version of the squat we set ourselves up for failure. If we can fix the issues that present during the bodyweight squat we give ourselves a greater capability to carry the load of the barbell. We should all have the ability to perform a full depth “ass-to-grass” squat without any weight. Period.Continue reading How to Teach a Perfect Squat

Can The Knees Go Over The Toes?

January 29, 2016October 10, 2022 ahorschig73 Comments

Just last week, I was guest lecturing to a class of physical therapy students at the University of Missouri. I asked a simple question, “How many people here think we should never have our knees go past the toes while squatting? Following my inquiry, every single student held their hand raised. The next thing I said was, “You’re all wrong.”Continue reading Can The Knees Go Over The Toes?

Are Deep Squats Bad For The Knees?

January 22, 2016March 6, 2021 ahorschig46 Comments

The squat is a staple exercise in almost every resistance-training program. Today athletes of all ages and skill levels use the barbell squat to gain strength and power. However, a good amount of controversy still exists on its safety. There are many opinions when it comes to optimal squat depth. Some experts claim squatting asContinue reading Are Deep Squats Bad For The Knees?

How to Improve Knee Stability

January 14, 2016March 6, 2021 ahorschig48 Comments

The knee needs to stay in perfect alignment with the toes when we squat. Any wobble from this position decreases our ability to produce strength and power. Instability also causes harmful forces to be placed on the structures deep inside our knee. This instability not only decreases our potential for performance but also increases our susceptibility for injury. Today I want to introduce to you my 3-step process for improving knee stability.Continue reading How to Improve Knee Stability

How to Screen for Knee Stability

January 7, 2016March 6, 2021 ahorschig35 Comments

Most athletes do not have an issue in achieving full knee flexion. The main problem we see is the inability to control the knee during dynamic movements like the squat. When I say unstable, what I mean is that often athletes have a difficult time keeping their knee in a steady and unwavering position.Continue reading How to Screen for Knee Stability