ARE SQUATS REALLY GOOD FOR YOU?
By
Philly's finest, showing his squatting technique.
Do you ever wonder why we do so many squats or whether they’re good for people of all ages? Two weekends ago I overheard a “trainer” in line at the hardware store telling the person in front of him that squats were really bad for the knees. Fascinating. Here’re Coach Glassman’s thoughts on the matter.
“Frequently, we encounter individuals whose doctor or chiropractor has told them not to squat. In nearly every instance this is pure ignorance on the part of the practitioner. When a doctor that doesn’t like the squat is asked, “by what method should your patient get off of the toilet?” they are at a loss for words. In a similarly misinformed manner we have heard trainers and health care providers suggest that the knee should not be bent past 90 degrees. It’s entertaining to ask proponents of this view to sit on the ground with their legs out in front of them and then to stand without bending the legs more than 90 degrees. It can’t be done without some grotesque bit of contrived movement. The truth is that getting up off of the floor involves a force on at least one knee that is substantially greater than the squat.” Coach Glassman.
Today’s Workout:
“Helen”
3 Rounds of :
400 M Run
21 KB Swings
12 Pull-ups
4 Comments
August 12th, 2009 at 2:21 am
Tee hee. This is such a Western issue. I’m a typical old-school Asian when it comes to sitting … that means I’m a natural squatter.
I went to Viet Nam a couple years ago and was in line w/ my mom for the bathroom at a rest stop. Female tourist after female tourist would look inside and then leave without using it, despite having a long bus ride ahead. The problem? The toilet, a perfectly good one, was situated in the ground.
My mom really couldn’t make sense of this. She asked if the other tourists felt they were too good or too clean for it. Nope, I had to explain to her that squatting was difficult/intimidating for many people, especially in such a uh, precarious, situation.
This lady did a great blog post on it: http://www.teresaandkids.com/2007/07/asian-toilets-aka-squats.html
This one is horribly smug: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/24/25827/6159/travel/Beijinging:+Do+You+Sit+or+Squat%3F
Also in Viet Nam (and in other countries around the world) you can just walk along the streets and see people squatting everywhere. Vendors, kids, mothers, etc. It’s natural. It’s easy. It’s life.
Of course, I know that the workout squats are not the same as sit-squatting on one’s heels, but you get the idea.
January 28th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
my question is are WEIGHTED squats really needed. i dont have any problem doing squatting or lunging exercises. clearly this is a natural movement. by why do you need to be squatting with huge barbells of weight on your shoulders? that seems like a knee or back injury waiting to happen.
February 27th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
I agree with Greg you didn’t accomplish anything with this article. It’s not a questoin of whether the squatting motion in general is good or bad for you, it’s whether weighted squats has a net positive effect on your body. Because personally it seems a little unnatural to be putting several hundred pounds of strain on your back and knees
February 28th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Sounds like an argument for or against weightlifting in general then eh? Unless you live your life never having to pick up anything heavy.