How deep is deep enough for a squat?

[Pitbull55]

Can you elaborate? I've always heard this is the best way but I'm about 2 months post op for acl reconstruction and am not looking forward to screwing up my knee when i squat again.

Not sure how long you have been training but with alot of new guys you see that their knee's turn inwards when trying to drive the weight up.

Side note: The foot planted with the knee slightly flexed (or turned inwards) is the most susceptible position for a non-contact acl injury now usually this requres jumping or running and cutting like a running back so I doubt any of that will be happening while you squat lol but just a little insight for you, anyways..

So if you go ATG and your knees turn inwards along with the external load of the bar, you are putting yourself in a bad position. This is when alot of guys will round their back too turning it into a bit of a good morning. Combine all this with the fact that you have an acl injury and you are asking for trouble.

Now I dont know how you have bounced back from surgery but I would recommend just breaking parallel if you're keen on doing squats but I would make sure your ligament is strong enough again before you start squatting at all.

Hope this helps.

 

[drt4]

Not sure how long you have been training but with alot of new guys you see that their knee's turn inwards when trying to drive the weight up.

Side note: The foot planted with the knee slightly flexed (or turned inwards) is the most susceptible position for a non-contact acl injury now usually this requres jumping or running and cutting like a running back so I doubt any of that will be happening while you squat lol but just a little insight for you, anyways..

So if you go ATG and your knees turn inwards along with the external load of the bar, you are putting yourself in a bad position. This is when alot of guys will round their back too turning it into a bit of a good morning. Combine all this with the fact that you have an acl injury and you are asking for trouble.

Now I dont know how you have bounced back from surgery but I would recommend just breaking parallel if you're keen on doing squats but I would make sure your ligament is strong enough again before you start squatting at all.

Hope this helps.

Yeah that does help! Shouldn't be squatting with weight for about 2 months or so but I'm going to start very light and work up slowly. I got my football season coming up and need my legs as strong as possible and I only got 8 months to get them strong again. Plan on doing some hgh to strengthen it up when I start up my legs.

 

[freakmentality]

I like going below Parallel, but at least to parallel is good

 

[Methodology]

The point of change in momentum (the bottom when it comes to squats) is the point that generates the most resistance.
At parallel, the knees are taking the largest percentage of the load as possible.
Hence it follows that squatting to exactly parallel is not adviseable for longterm joint health, as you are essentially placing the largest load possible on the weakest point possible.

Rather, at least slightly below would be preferred. This will allow the hamstrings to take over that extra load during the momentum switch.
Going even lower than that will further engage the glutes.
The option between those two is up to you as to where you want additional growth. Make sure you base this on balance rather than aesthetics. Many guys get so wrapped up in a fear of a large butt that they neglect it entirely & then end up injured that one time they go too low by accident. To choose between the two, you need to know where your genetic strengths are & how much accessory work is being given to either one.

Squatting above parallel, on the other hand, may not be so much a risk to the knees as going to parallel, however you are artificially raising the amount of weight that you can actually handle.
Thereby, the spine becomes the bottleneck of the movement when it comes to strength. You are throwing on loads to your back that it may not actually be able to handle, which can be very dangerous but also has a high genetic factor when it comes to that risk (some people just naturally have very strong backs... though probably 95% of lifters are weaker than they think in that area).

Question about this, I go down into my squat, below parallel I get a sudden change in momentum where I can just suddenly bounce back up, no matter how low I go, just wondering if I'm supposed to bounce back slowly, or just bring it on up as fast as possible (same speed as the momentum)?

 

[DreDay187]

Question about this, I go down into my squat, below parallel I get a sudden change in momentum where I can just suddenly bounce back up, no matter how low I go, just wondering if I'm supposed to bounce back slowly, or just bring it on up as fast as possible (same speed as the momentum)?

Once you go parallel and below is when you'll that rebound reflex out the hole. During the concentric portion of the squat on the way down, the hamstrings will perform a concentric contraction until you hit depth. They're storing kinetic energy at this point similar to a spring that's compressed. The transition from downward movement to upward movement or concentric contraction to eccentric contraction will give you this 'bounce' or rebound out of the bottom position. Learning to time your change in direction and using this rebound force is crucial for the squat. Once you get full depth and feel the rebound reflex you should raise your hips explosively. Imagine there's a rope tied to your tailbone and some is pull up on it or that someone's pushing down on your tailbone/ass and your pushing up against that force.