Ass to grass vs. Parallel squats

[gr8whitetrukker]

@Docd187123 can't figure out how to pm videos. Used to be able to idk what's going on. Could post it here easy enough. Just worried about possible security issues? That may exist?

 

[Kinikuman]

I would suggest eliminating the pause at the bottom of the exercise, converting the exercise into an almost constant motion piston type movement. Focus on keeping yourself as erect as possible with a high bar and your core extremely tight as you descend. You may also want to consider a strong stretching routine pre-workout that really focuses on low back flexibility. (This assumes you don't have some damage causing the symptoms.)

I am coming off multiple hernia surgery and my doctor has actually encouraged me to get back into the squat rack ASAP, so not all doctors think squats are bad. Best of luck, man. I love squats, too and don't know what I would do if I couldn't perform them any more.

 

[lucabratzi]

Soooo....
I'm a bit more than annoyed. Annoyed and fucking confused. After alot of VA visits with the doc and multiple chiropractor visits I was afforded more insight on to the condition of my lower back. Just recently came off a 6 week no leg training break to try and let everything heal up and eliminate overuse as an issue.

Hit up squats today on my first day back to leg training. Real light and easy.
I warm up with bar weight squats and unweighted good mornings, hip rolls and lunging stretches in an effort to open my hips and get ready for a serious set as I always do.

Nothing special 225x10, 225x10, 225x10. Not even close to what I can really do. All perfect A2G with 1 second pause in down position. Focusing on driving out with my ass. Feels great first 2 sets. Then bam 3rd set and that familiar extreme seizing feeling. That's the best way to describe it. If I ignore it I eventually drop to my knees with the inability to move or get back up. Knowing better I went to leg ext to try and sub the rest of my planned work there. After more crippling pain I just threw in the towel again. FUCK....spent the next 45 minutes laying down to find some sort of comfort.

Here in lies the problem. I love squats. And more often than not I pull the sledge hammer out of my choices of tools in my bag. It's my favorite tool. It accomplishes so much. Except now I feel hard work and determination aren't enough and squats must go. I hate to be that fucking guy but God damn I can't keep up with this pain. It seems to be anything that compresses my lower back that causes it. I tried hyper extensions to strengthen the lumbar but that's worse.

How do guys work around these issues and still build champion quality legs?
@tileguy123 , @lucabratzi @Docd187123

Fuck bro. Same thing just happened to me but I was getting out of bed lol. I was at Halloween horror nights last night and walking for 10+ hrs. Got out of bed this morning and back seized up and I went down.

Lately, leg press has been good to me. I do wide leg and toes pointed out. I stay away from hack squat.

Weighted walking lunges are one of my favorite workouts. Hits every area of legs and ass. I don't go heavy. 25lb db in each hand and do 20 lunges down the gym and 20 lunges back the gym.

Leg extensions for warm up and working sets.

Only time I do squats is when my legs are already exhausted at the end of the workout so I can go light (135lb) and rep out. I focus on keeping my lower back and core real tight throughout the lift. If I loosen up just a little my back will pinch.

 

[Docd187123]

I was hoping someone that doesn't sound like an idiot, as in my response, would provide detail and confirm that belts indirectly help the lumbar. lol

You actually did a good job explaining it. Didn't come across as an idiot whatsoever lol

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

I would suggest eliminating the pause at the bottom of the exercise, converting the exercise into an almost constant motion piston type movement. Focus on keeping yourself as erect as possible with a high bar and your core extremely tight as you descend. You may also want to consider a strong stretching routine pre-workout that really focuses on low back flexibility. (This assumes you don't have some damage causing the symptoms.)

I am coming off multiple hernia surgery and my doctor has actually encouraged me to get back into the squat rack ASAP, so not all doctors think squats are bad. Best of luck, man. I love squats, too and don't know what I would do if I couldn't perform them any more.

I don't have a lot of knowledge of lower back stretches honestly.
Also I have switched to a low bar position. I find this gives my lower back much more leverage against heavy weight. As low as I can comfortably set it any way

Fuck bro. Same thing just happened to me but I was getting out of bed lol. I was at Halloween horror nights last night and walking for 10+ hrs. Got out of bed this morning and back seized up and I went down.

Lately, leg press has been good to me. I do wide leg and toes pointed out. I stay away from hack squat.

Weighted walking lunges are one of my favorite workouts. Hits every area of legs and ass. I don't go heavy. 25lb db in each hand and do 20 lunges down the gym and 20 lunges back the gym.

Leg extensions for warm up and working sets.

Only time I do squats is when my legs are already exhausted at the end of the workout so I can go light (135lb) and rep out. I focus on keeping my lower back and core real tight throughout the lift. If I loosen up just a little my back will pinch.

I always wondered what physique guys did for legs. Now I know! Thx man

 

[Docd187123]

I'll take all the help I can get. Please, send links for stretches or anything else. I'm currently working on trying to figure out how to upload an older squat vid. I'll get it sooner or later.

Another thing, I've never understood butt wink. I have my idea of what your talking about but idk

And yes I think parallel will have to do from here on out
I really don't want to give up them squats

When I get some time at home I'll send you links or post them here.

Butt wink is due to tight hamstrings and lack of mobility. The pelvis is attached to the lower back muscles at the top and the hamstrings at the bottom. Tight hamstrings will pull your pelvis down but for the back to remain safe they eventually must give out and relax at extreme depth otherwise your back would be compromised. When the hamstrings relax you lose a lot of the stretch reflex from them for coming out the hole and your back ends up taking the slack putting more pressure on it. The wink you'll see if you video yourself. Once you hit depth you'll see your ass tilt/rotate down and to the front. It looks like your ass tries to tuck in underneath your body and you lose the lumbar curve in the low back. Bc of this I suggest sticking to parallel and implementing box squats as either a primary lift or secondary lift. Not only will box squats get you to feel the new depth (higher than you're used to but still at parallel), but they'll also add more hamstring and glute involvement to help strengthen them and take pressure off the back as well as stopping butt wink.

 

[Docd187123]

@Docd187123 can't figure out how to pm videos. Used to be able to idk what's going on. Could post it here easy enough. Just worried about possible security issues? That may exist?

If you don't want to post here I can send you an email address to send to or upload it to YouTube anonymously and send the link.

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

@Docd187123 your one impressive mofo. Thank you

 

[Docd187123]

@Docd187123 your one impressive mofo. Thank you

A great many people have helped me get to where I am now. It is bc I wish to honor and respect them that I pass on the information I have available to me to help others. I simply ask you do the same in return. Help the next guy out when you have the answers to help
Or just send me pics of some good ole Texas bbq

 

[insertnamehere]

100% true here BUTTTTTTT when your abs have something to contract against, they can contract stronger. Doing that takes some of the pressure off the low back as it has to do less work and the abs can take up the slack n

Fuck belts! They're only for pussies!

 

[Docd187123]

Fuck belts! They're only for pussies!

Just mean I'm a gaping pussy since I LOVE my inzer??

 

[insertnamehere]

Just mean I'm a gaping pussy since I LOVE my inzer??

Yes, that's why I like you so much lol Well, except for all that hair I get in my mouth haha

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

Just googled inversion tables.
Holy rubber nipples batman!
Those damn things go for North of $400! Some as low as $150
Any recommendations for the sturdiest one to hold my ass up?

 

[Docd187123]

Just googled inversion tables.
Holy rubber nipples batman!
Those damn things go for North of $400! Some as low as $150
Any recommendations for the sturdiest one to hold my ass up?

I got a buddy who is built like a fucking goddam lumberjack. Literally looks like a Paul Bunyan lol. Anyway he's using a $120 tank he got at walmart. If it can hold his 260lb ass up multiple times a week I think you're good lol

 

[Docd187123]

This is the one I've been eying and it says rated for 300lbs

http://www.amazon.com/Innova-ITM480...d=1445016365&sr=8-10&keywords=inversion+table

 

[Dr JIM]

1&2) disc issue yes x-rays have been done. Sorry I don't like to go in to too much depth here as it could reveal more about my identity and my service
3) pain comes from volume not weight. I've had 455 and 225 on my back it all does the same thing. Cause pain. It feels as if an engine is running with out oil in effect seizing. Eventually if I push thru the pain I go numb and fall over. Like I been shot with a 7.62. I tried front squats with the same result. Even leg presses down in a fully compressed fashion. I don't do leg presses half way. It seems to be my lower back is massively over compensating. Needless to say I don't do deadlifts any more. Not since senior yr high school. That would destroy me
4)yes I have videos but nothing recent

Thx for the help!

How many times must doctors tell patients what should be apparent, fella it hurts DONT DO IT!

The fact your not willing to do that which is only rationale will result in you looking for "help" where the only "treatment" will be autoclaved steel, and from that point forward you will have a much greater appreciation of;
if it HURTS DONT DO IT!

 

[Switcher]

How many times must doctors tell patients what should be apparent, fella it hurts DONT DO IT!

The fact your not willing to do that which is only rationale will result in you looking for "help" where the only "treatment" will be autoclaved steel, and from that point forward you will have a much greater appreciation of;
if it HURTS DONT DO IT!

Doesn't pain make you stronger!

 

[Dr JIM]

Well now that depends upon the SOURCE of that pain doesn't it.

 

[Switcher]

Good response. I'll sit down now.

 

[evarthecaveman]

Havnt back squated In months can still hit 405 for singles a2g I just fucking hate squats in all honesty. Then I tried low bar squats and it felt SO much more natural. 405 felt like air on low bar only thing was it killed my elbows. Left them sore for weeks not sure why. So back to leg press/lunges/front squats I go. Those exercises give me much better leg development then back squats. But there is something exciting about back squats I miss so I'm wanting to get back into them.