Welcome back to Squat University! If you’re dealing with an injury while lifting – this is a good starting place. In the blogs below you’ll find links to many of the common places you will find aches/pains when lifting. In these blogs you’ll learn WHY these injuries occur and also some of the best firstContinue reading Common Lifting Injuiies
Is It Really “No Pain, No Gain”?
Imagine for a moment you got the chance to drive your dream sports car. As you sit in the drivers seat, you can feel the engine roar beneath your feet. Your body is pulled back into the seat as you step on the accelerator. After a few hours of driving you glance at the dashboardContinue reading Is It Really “No Pain, No Gain”?
Perfecting the Overhead Squat
Prior to the turn of the century, the overhead squat was primarily used by competitive weightlifters. Olympic weightlifting coaches use the overhead squat as a teaching progression for novice athletes. The overhead squat is used to strengthen the bottom position of a barbell snatch. Since the recent boom in CrossFit, the use of the overheadContinue reading Perfecting the Overhead Squat
How to Improve Overhead Stability
Welcome back to Squat University! Last week we started a conversation on scapular stability. The muscles that control the scapula help stabilize the barbell during an overhead squat or snatch movement in a strong and safe position. Previously, we introduced the T & Y screen as a tool to expose possible weak links our scapularContinue reading How to Improve Overhead Stability
How to Screen for Overhead Stability
Imagine for a moment a young boy helping his father set up a tall ladder. The young boy kneels at the base of the ladder, firmly securing it to the ground. The father then pushes the ladder upwards, leaning it against the side of their house. This illustration is precisely what happens at your shoulderContinue reading How to Screen for Overhead Stability
Toes Forward or Angled Out When You Squat?
During a recent Squat University seminar, I was approached by an athlete who wondered why I had asked everyone to show me his or her squat with their toes straightforward. This was definitely not the first time I’ve been asked this question. There’s a lot of controversy in the fitness world today when it comesContinue reading Toes Forward or Angled Out When You Squat?
How to Use a Weightlifting Belt
I was recently working with a weightlifter that was trying to get over some nagging knee pain. During our session I had her perform a few sets of heavy back squats so I could watch her technique. Before she would approach the bar, I noticed she would take the weightlifting belt hanging around her waistContinue reading How to Use a Weightlifting Belt
Why You Should Squat Heavy
I recently watched a DVD on overhead throwing athletes and rehabilitation that featured Mike Reinold and Eric Cressey. Reinold is a well-known physical therapist (owns and operates Champion PT in Massachusetts). Cressey is a widely respected and highly educated strength and conditioning coach. Anyways, on the DVD Cressey spoke about the injury threshold of aContinue reading Why You Should Squat Heavy
Are You Wearing The Right Shoes For Squatting?
The right pair of shoes gave Michael Jordan the edge to lead Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang to victory in the 1996 movie Space Jam. For those serious about weight training, choosing the right shoe may help you break any personal records and improve performance.
The Real Science of the Squat Pt 2
Welcome back to Squat University! Last week we entered into Biomechanics 101, an introduction into the mechanics of the human body. We learned what torque is and how it is generated during the squat. While the analysis from last week was a great starting point to understanding the squat, we can’t stop there. We needContinue reading The Real Science of the Squat Pt 2