going below parallel on squats-how dangerous?

[rockhuddy]

going below parallel is not good for your knees - i'm sure some guys think it's better but it's not. If you really need that extra stretching get on a leg press where it's safer and you can go nice and slow with it. Somebody give me 1 legitimate reason why going below parallel is beneficial.

Here's 2: Greater stretch in the quads = more microtrauma, and greater hamstring/glute involvement. Besides that it's safer for reasons I've mentioned above. And going very low on leg presses usually means that your lower back comes off of the pad, leading to lower back injuries, so that's not really a safer alternative.

Edit: If you have anything besides anecdotal evidence to show why stopping at parallel is safer than going ATG, I'd love to hear it. A scientific study or physiological reasoning would be acceptable, not just a hollow blanket statement.

[Superhuman]

Here's 2: Greater stretch in the quads = more microtrauma, and greater hamstring/glute involvement. Besides that it's safer for reasons I've mentioned above. And going very low on leg presses usually means that your lower back comes off of the pad, leading to lower back injuries, so that's not really a safer alternative.

Edit: If you have anything besides anecdotal evidence to show why stopping at parallel is safer than going ATG, I'd love to hear it. A scientific study or physiological reasoning would be acceptable, not just a hollow blanket statement.

Why would my lower back come off of the bad?

If you have bad form on a leg press to where you hurt your lower back - you sure as hell shouldn't be doing deep squats because God only knows what would happen.

If stretching your quad is a big deal for you the spend 15min stretching before and after your workout. Stretching is stretching, adding heavy weight to the equation just increases risk of injury.

For more glute activation - like i said leg press is great and lunges are way under-rated.

[rockhuddy]

Why would my lower back come off of the bad?

If you have bad form on a leg press to where you hurt your lower back - you sure as hell shouldn't be doing deep squats because God only knows what would happen.

It wouldn't necessarily, but with many people it often does. If you try to go very deep, your lower back tends to round as you go deeper and deeper. You can see what I'm talking about if you lay down on the floor and bring your knees toward your chin. Does your lower back come off of the floor? Same thing often happens with leg presses.

If stretching your quad is a big deal for you the spend 15min stretching before and after your workout. Stretching is stretching, adding heavy weight to the equation just increases risk of injury.

For more glute activation - like i said leg press is great and lunges are way under-rated.

Stretch under tension causes greater microtrauma in the muscle. Are you suggesting that I can use 1/2 ROM on bench press and still get full development as long as I stretch my pecs? Greater ROM = greater development.

As for posterior chain activation, I actually consider squats a PC dominant exercise. Too many try to make it quad dominant, and then justify it by adding something like lunges. Lunges and leg presses are fine, don't get me wrong, but most trainers end up doing pathetically little for their posterior chains. Good mornings, GHRs, RDLs, etc. should all be training staples, and prioritized in leg workouts, and then the quads should be hit with front and hack squats. Regardless, why try to limit glute involvement? The glutes are key to moving big weight, and the more you squat the more you'll grow.

[Papi93]

Here's 2: Greater stretch in the quads = more microtrauma, and greater hamstring/glute involvement. Besides that it's safer for reasons I've mentioned above. And going very low on leg presses usually means that your lower back comes off of the pad, leading to lower back injuries, so that's not really a safer alternative.

Edit: If you have anything besides anecdotal evidence to show why stopping at parallel is safer than going ATG, I'd love to hear it. A scientific study or physiological reasoning would be acceptable, not just a hollow blanket statement.

Well said Rock. I would rep you but the system doesn't work here . Good to see you back on, again.