School me on squats

[biggest ragu]

How important are they? I had a wicked knee injury a couple years ago, and since I've been back in the gym I've avoided them. Frankly, I'm afraid of them. The rinky dink gym I go to doesn't have a squat rack, but they do have a Smith machine. Should I add them?

 

[drewbolic]

Squats are not bad for the knee's at all just remember to keep the weight back and drive off your heels.
IMO squats are important for just about every muscle group and raw strength.Gotta do them RAGU

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

i agree very important

 

[JMB1]

If you have aspirations to compete they are mandatory.
If you just like to hit the iron hard, not
doing them can make your whole body seem smaller. Legs are about 1/2 of our
muscle mass. It's hard to ignore and
watch that much lean mass atrophy.
Start back in it slow, train those legs!
Work your way back.
Like Drew said, drive up from the heels. I look up.

How important are they? I had a wicked knee injury a couple years ago, and since I've been back in the gym I've avoided them. Frankly, I'm afraid of them. The rinky dink gym I go to doesn't have a squat rack, but they do have a Smith machine. Should I add them?

 

[biggest ragu]

I gave em a shot this morning, nothing too heavy (200 maybe). Other than the ridiculous burn in my thighs, my legs were just fine. No knee issues, or anything else. I guess I'll be adding a leg day. Thanks for the responses guys.

 

[drewbolic]

Did squats today also,ragu just remember when squating keep the weight back on your heels,when you start to roll forward to your toes thats when you set your self up for knee issues.

 

[biggest ragu]

Did squats today also,ragu just remember when squating keep the weight back on your heels,when you start to roll forward to your toes thats when you set your self up for knee issues.

My shoes aren't very good for squats, so it was tough to keep on my heels. On top of that, I have to use a smith machine, so I'm a little limited since there's no range to how I can stand. I have to just try to not hurt my knee again, I can't lose another year of my life.

 

[Welter]

Lol I hate leg day and love when it's over but there is something very gratifying about being so sore it hurts to climbs steps for the next two days or trying to get up from a chair.

 

[JMB1]

Sounds like good news. Don't be fooled
by the smith. It's def not the same as a regular barbell squat, but you can still train
just fine with it.
I put my legs in front of me on sometimes on smith squats, also use it for front squats, SLDL's and many others.

I gave em a shot this morning, nothing too heavy (200 maybe). Other than the ridiculous burn in my thighs, my legs were just fine. No knee issues, or anything else. I guess I'll be adding a leg day. Thanks for the responses guys.

 

[drewbolic]

My shoes aren't very good for squats, so it was tough to keep on my heels. On top of that, I have to use a smith machine, so I'm a little limited since there's no range to how I can stand. I have to just try to not hurt my knee again, I can't lose another year of my life.

squat in socks,I see dudes all the time squatting with running shoes and it drives me nuts,they have an inch or more of soft sponge under there feet of coarse they cant keep the weight right.I squat in adidas rod lavers there flat soles and have very little compression.

And just like JMB1 mentioned the smith machine is good to strengthen the agonist mover muscles but doesnt compare to the BB full squats and all the stabilizing muscles you are using in the core to keep the weight righted.

 

[biggest ragu]

I don't have the ability to BB squat, without a rack at the gym. I'll be moving sometime this summer, and I'll hopefully have a larger gym close to home. I'll ease in to them with the smith, then switch over when I can. I'll give the sock thing a try next week, I think I'll make Wed leg day

 

[Welter]

Socks are ok if you have rubber matting or something that grabs but i wouldnt do it in socks on a vinyl floor get some chuck taylors or puma/adidas with real thin soles. I use pumas that are incredibly comfortable but anything that gives you a little grab. AQlot of guys wear these shoes that look like swimming shoes but with toes built in, ugly as hell but i guess they work well

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

I don't have the ability to BB squat, without a rack at the gym. I'll be moving sometime this summer, and I'll hopefully have a larger gym close to home. I'll ease in to them with the smith, then switch over when I can. I'll give the sock thing a try next week, I think I'll make Wed leg day

try standing on a bench on one foot-and doing a squat-you would be suprised how hard they are. you can do deads like that too

 

[biggest ragu]

Socks are ok if you have rubber matting or something that grabs but i wouldnt do it in socks on a vinyl floor get some chuck taylors or puma/adidas with real thin soles. I use pumas that are incredibly comfortable but anything that gives you a little grab. AQlot of guys wear these shoes that look like swimming shoes but with toes built in, ugly as hell but i guess they work well

I'll have to see if any of those come in my size (16). I might be able to order some Chucks

 

[biggest ragu]

try standing on a bench on one foot-and doing a squat-you would be suprised how hard they are. you can do deads like that too

I'll give it a shot, I'm gonna ease into leg work til I get over my knee fear. Thanks for the ideas

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

you can do them on one foot with the smith too-but put your foot way out in front of the bar so you have to lean back and rest on the bar to keep from falling backwards-the resistance created makes it really tough

 

[DADAWG]

I'll have to see if any of those come in my size (16). I might be able to order some Chucks

wrestling shows work very well, i did a quick search and found this pair for a reasonable price.



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