The Journey to Squat

The squat is the perfect expression of movement. It is a dance of muscle activation, joint capacity, balance, and body control. If you have a great squat, you probably live an active life with very little orthopedic issues and some level of fitness. Conversely, someone that cannot squat probably experiences daily orthopedic frustrations, limited mobility, and lacks athletic ability. We all need to squat at the end of the day. Whether you are putting 300 lbs on your back or using body weight, it is an essential function of life to be able to get down and up.  

As Coach Glassman says, “The needs of the elderly and professional athletes differ by degree, not kind.  Where one needs functional competency to maintain independence, the other needs functional mastery to maintain dominance.  Improved hip capacity will help a pro ball player’s throw to first; it will also reduce the chances of grandpa falling in the tub.  The squat is the perfect tool for both.” 

How can full depth squats improve your life?  

• Increased hip mobility can alleviate back frustration.

• Improved core to extremity bracing will allow you to create greater force output (strength). 

• Increased ankle and knee flexion will improve weight transfer in locomotion and strengthen connective tissue.

• Increased squat depth will strengthen the muscles of the midfoot and forefoot. Reducing the opportunity for plantar fasciitis and shin splints. 

Three easy ways to improve your squat today: 

-              Accumulate 3 to 5 minutes in a supported squat hold daily. 

-              Add a banded ankle flexion stretch to your warm-up routine. 

-              Add 20 reps of banded hip internal rotation to your daily routine. 

Ready to improve your squat? Email us at crossfitbestlife@gmail.com and we’ll connect you with some free resources to get started.